Amateur-built Zodiac 601XL accident near Traverse City, Michigan, October 11, 2011
On October 11, 2011 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Zodiac 601XL, registered N4595P, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Traverse City, Michigan (Lake Ann Airway Estates airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2011 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Traverse City, Michigan · Lake Ann Airway Estates · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zodiac 601XL
- Registration
- N4595P · no longer on the register · serial 6-5965
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine lost power shortly after takeoff about 400 feet above ground level. The pilot's efforts to restore engine power were not successful. He initiated a left turn in order to set up for a forced landing; however, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of an engine malfunction or failure. Carburetor icing was not probable under takeoff power at the time of the accident. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 2, 2010
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 11, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M0 Traverse City MI at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 4M0 Traverse City MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,537 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 24,000 ft; scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from TVC, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.