Amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH701 accident near Arnaudville, Louisiana, June 25, 2023
On June 25, 2023 at about 1:00 am local time, a 2015 amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH701, registered N1836E, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Arnaudville, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 airspeed resulting in exceeding the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. The low altitude at which the flight was conducted contributed to the outcome.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2023 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Arnaudville, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH701, built 2015
- Registration
- N1836E · registry record · serial 7-5983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot reported that he was flying low and slow over a field looking for a model airplane that he had lost the day before. He was returning to his private airstrip, flying low and slow over trees, when the airplane stalled. Before he could recover from the aerodynamic stall the landing gear contacted the trees, and the airplane fell to the ground. He reported that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident was all pilot error. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 2200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from KOPL, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOPL 250055Z AUTO 21005KT 10SM CLR 31/25 A2995 RMK AO2 T03120245=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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 CEN23LA331.