Amateur-built CH601 accident near Worthington, Minnesota, May 31, 2020
On May 31, 2020 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built CH601, registered N638RM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Worthington, Minnesota (Worthington 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 excessive brake application during the landing roll to avoid an animal on the runway, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2020 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Worthington, Minnesota · Worthington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH601 HD, built 2012
- Registration
- N638RM · no longer on the register · serial 23082
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane with a gusting, left quartering headwind. He stated that during the landing roll, he saw a fox run across the runway in front of the airplane, so he applied hard pressure to the brakes. He added that the tailwheel spun around, the airplane violently twisted to the left, and the right main landing gear bent under the airplane. He taxied the airplane to the ramp with difficulty. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing immediately above the landing gear. The right tailwheel chain was broken. There was no evidence of an animal strike on the airplane and there was no carcass found on the runway.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Wildlife encounter (non-bird) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 710 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 8.5 in the last 90 days; 5.5 in the last 30 days; 710 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 31, 2019
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 238 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-81 (piston); 230 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HCD Hutchinson MN at 8:00 pm
- Destination: OTG Worthington MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 19 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from KOTG, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 1, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.