Amateur-built Zodiac 601XL accident near Lonoke, Arkansas, May 12, 2007
On May 12, 2007 at about 2:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Zodiac 601XL, registered N42005, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lonoke, Arkansas (Country Air Estates Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. An additional cause was the pilot's improper decision to enter the traffic pattern after intermittent losses of engine power, and his subsequent failure to remain within power off gliding distance of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2007 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lonoke, Arkansas · Country Air Estates Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zodiac 601XL
- Registration
- N42005 · no longer on the register · serial 6-5238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when the left wing impacted the ground during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that approximately 2-1/2 miles from the intended destination while in a "gradual descent" to the airport, the engine "had a sudden loss of [power] for a second or two, and then immediately was running perfect again." He considered executing a downwind landing; however, because the engine was running again and the airplane was "still a little high," he elected to enter the traffic pattern while remaining close to the runway. He selected the other fuel tank, but "a few seconds later" a similar brief loss of engine power occurred again. He "immediately turned to the east to the runway and the engine quit a few second[s] later." He entered a left turn in an attempt to avoid a water-filled ditch when the left wing struck the ground. A post accident examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any anomalies. The pilot stated that fuel samples were taken during the preflight inspection and no water or contaminants were observed. He did not recall applying carburetor heat during the descent or after the loss of engine power. About the time of the accident, Adams Field Airport located approximately 10 miles west of the accident site, recorded a temperature and dew point of 23 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively. Data provided by Transport Canada indicated the possibility of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power and serious carburetor icing at descent power under those conditions.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 684 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 569 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 57 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 1, 2006
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SRC Searcy AR at 1:35 pm
- Destination: 1AR9 Lonoke AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,600 ft; a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from LIT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N42005 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.