Amateur-built Zodiac CH-650 accident near Gainesville, Missouri, May 2, 2013
On May 2, 2013 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Zodiac CH-650, registered N914AR, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Gainesville, Missouri (Pvt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot misjudged the landing approach, which resulted in the airplane hitting a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2013 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Missouri · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zodiac CH-650
- Registration
- N914AR · no longer on the register · serial 65-7533
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that this was the first time he flew the accident airplane into his private airstrip. He said that the airspeed was too fast and he overshot the airstrip; the left wing hit a tree and the airplane came to rest inverted in a wooded area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,366 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 14,185 as pilot in command; 4,560 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,620 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Doro MO at 4:20 pm
- Destination: PVT Gainesville MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 715 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N914AR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.