Zenith Aircraft Company 601 XL accident near O'Donnell, Texas, June 20, 2026
On June 20, 2026 at about 4:47 pm local time, a 2011 Zenith Aircraft Company 601 XL, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N165TJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near O'Donnell, Texas. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2026 · about 4:47 pm local time
- Place
- O'Donnell, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Zenith Aircraft Company 601 XL, built 2011, amateur-built
- Registration
- N165TJ · registry record · serial 6-7060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 20, 2026, about 1147 central daylight time, an experimental Zodiac 601XL airplane, N165TJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near O’Donnell, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that she was relocating the airplane for the new owner, which was something she had previously done for this owner. During the preflight inspection, she did not find anything wrong with the airplane. About 15 minutes after departure, the canopy popped open about 2 inches, and she observed that the main canopy latch was no longer fully latched. As she initiated a right turn back to the airport, the latch broke and the canopy flew open. She grabbed the canopy rope and attempted to close the canopy but was unable. Due to the excessive drag, airplane’s descent increased so she executed a forced landing to a field. During the landing the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot added that she had accumulated about 20 to 30 hours in the same airplane model but had never flown this airplane before. Postaccident examination by the FAA revealed that the airplane landed in an agricultural field, perpendicular to the rows of crops. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings. The airplane was equipped with a forward hinging, tip-up canopy with gas struts that assisted in opening the canopy and supported the canopy when open. The main canopy latch was on the front left side near the instrument panel. The rear of the canopy frame featured a rope that locked into a cam cleat behind the pilot’s seat, which acted as a secondary canopy latch. A condition inspection was completed on May 18, 2026, at 388.6 hours airframe total time. The logbook entry noted that the canopy was clear with no distortion and recommended replacement of the canopy struts. The airplane has been retained for further examination.
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
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (cruise)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 390.1 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 18, 2026; 1.5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: KLUV Lamesa TX
- Destination: KJEF Jefferson City MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KSNK, 42 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSNK 201635Z AUTO 19005KT 10SM SCT034 29/20 A3000 RMK AO2 T02870196
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 CEN26LA230.