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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 6, 2025 · about 8:51 pm local time
- Place
- Weatherford, Oklahoma · Weatherford Stafford 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 |
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
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 CEN26LA057.