Amateur-built ZENITH CH 701 accident near Garden Ridge, Texas, October 5, 2019
On October 5, 2019 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2002 amateur-built ZENITH CH 701, registered N701BJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Garden Ridge, Texas (Kitty Hawk Flying Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2019 · about 3:30 pm local time · cases in 2019
- Place
- Garden Ridge, Texas · Kitty Hawk Flying Field · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH CH 701 No Series, built 2002
- Registration
- N701BJ · registry record · serial JN316
- 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 the airplane was fully loaded with fuel and that all preflight checks were normal for the personal flight. He indicated that, after departure, as the airplane reached between about 10 and 15 ft above ground level, the engine power rolled back "opposite of a surge." He landed straight ahead into brush past the runway end. During the landing, the right main landing gear and nose landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. During the engine examination, several items were identified that could have contributed to a reduction or loss of engine power, including a lack of a fuel return line, a loose exhaust pipe, dirty air filters, and a disconnected choke lever. However, an engine test run was conducted without correcting any of the identified deficiencies, and the engine performed without interruption; no anomalies were noted. Further, no anomalies were noted during the airframe examination. Although the conditions were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, the airplane was operating at 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
- Unknown or undetermined during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 188 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 349.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 2019
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL-S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TS67 Garden Ridge TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 700 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Main Wreckage (Pilot Photo)
Photo 2 – Disconnected Choke Lever (Rotech Photo)
Photo 3 – Air Filters (Rotech Photo)
Photo 4 – Fuel Lines (Rotech Photo)
Photo 5 – No. 3 Exhaust (Rotech Photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on March 3, 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 | Rotax Field Exam Notes | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Saib CE-09-35 Carb Icing | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | CEN20LA005 - Revisions to Factual Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N701BJ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL-S 62 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Kitty Hawk Flying Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,061 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,986 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN20LA005.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.