Amateur-built CH701 accident near Weatherford, Oklahoma, December 6, 2025
On December 6, 2025 at about 8:51 pm local time, a 2021 amateur-built CH701, registered N701SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Weatherford, Oklahoma (Weatherford Stafford 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. Contributing to the accident was the pilot being in a rush and failing to note the wind direction and speed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 2025 · about 8:51 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Weatherford, Oklahoma · Weatherford Stafford Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH701, built 2021
- Registration
- N701SA · registry record · serial 7-6054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot diverted to an alternate airport due to foggy weather along his route of flight. The pilot stated that while descending to land, the weather was getting worse and he wanted to get on the ground quickly. While landing on runway 35, the airplane dropped from about 20 ft above ground level and the left landing gear hit first. The pilot was unable to maintain control, and the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and wings. The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented by noting the windsock direction and wind speed and that he would never rush a landing again. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Weather reports indicated that the pilot landed the airplane with a 10-knot right quartering tailwind.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Mental/emotional state › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 800 hours in all; 350 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 350 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 23, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 450 hours total
The flight
- Destination: F22 Perry OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from KOJA
Weather report (METAR): METAR KOJA 062050Z AUTO 16010KT 10SM BKN010 07/04 A2972 RMK AO2 T00700040=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
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
4 documents, released by the NTSB on March 19, 2026. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Airport Manager 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.
Other NTSB records under N701SA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N701SA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 912 241 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Weatherford Stafford Airport · nearest airport
- Perry Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Oklahoma 1,300 since 1982 · 181 in the last ten years
- Oklahoma 5,655 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N701SA 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA057.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.