Amateur-built STOL CH750 accident near Udall, Kansas, May 3, 2023
On May 3, 2023 at about 1:13 am local time, a 2014 amateur-built STOL CH750, registered N750TK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Udall, Kansas (Cook Airfield). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Contributing to the accident was the reported loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 2023 · about 1:13 am local time
- Place
- Udall, Kansas · Cook Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built STOL CH750, built 2014
- Registration
- N750TK · registry record · serial 75-7953
- 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 while on a cross-country flight he experienced an “engine stumble,” which then returned to normal operation so he continued for about 12 more miles over open fields. During an attempted climbing turn, the engine sustained a “prolonged stumble” and a loss of power that did not improve. As the pilot set up for a forced landing on a road, the airplane’s vertical stabilizer impacted a power line, so he aborted the landing. The pilot made a climbing left turn as engine power was restored. The pilot continued the flight to his destination airport and landed without further incident. A witness reported seeing the airplane flying low in front of his property. The witness reported hearing engine noise and did not hear any indication of a rough running engine. The witness stated he heard a noise and then saw power lines moving. He reported the airplane flew under the power lines and then climbed up again. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. A functional test run of the engine revealed that it achieved full power with no anomalies noted. The carburetors exhibited some fuel staining; however, examination of both carburetors revealed no malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. As a result, the reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. Automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) data showed the airplane climbed to an altitude of about 1,000 ft above ground level (agl) after takeoff. About 14 miles after departure, the airplane descended, and remained at altitudes below 300 ft agl until it collided with the power lines. The airplane then climbed to and maintained an altitude of 1,100 ft agl, before it descended to land at the destination airport.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing defining event
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 665 hours in all; 610 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 24, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 609.7 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 4, 2023; 17.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,330 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 100ULS (piston); 609 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPNC Ponca City OK
- Destination: K50 Rose Hill KS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from KEGT, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KEGT 030115Z AUTO 01007KT 10SM CLR 15/M02 A2998 RMK AO2 T01481021,M
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA169.