Amateur-built ZODIAC 601XL accident near Fremont, Nebraska, September 14, 2014
On September 14, 2014 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built ZODIAC 601XL, registered N710DM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Fremont, Nebraska (Fremont Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2014 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fremont, Nebraska · Fremont Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZODIAC 601XL XL, built 2013
- Registration
- N710DM · registry record · serial 5636
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing flare, he over-controlled and the airplane climbed. He then pushed forward on the elevator control and over-corrected. He said that before he knew it he was porpoising and the airplane landed hard. He stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the event. The airplane incurred damage to the firewall.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 399.2 hours in all; 13.1 in this make and model; 10.5 in the last 90 days; 6.5 in the last 30 days; 332.7 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 11, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 13, 2014
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: General Motors Corvair (piston); 22 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FET Fremont NE at 6:00 pm
- Destination: FET Fremont NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 6,353 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from FET
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.