Amateur-built Zenair CH 701SP accident near Mountain View, Wyoming, June 24, 2007
On June 24, 2007 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Zenair CH 701SP, registered N281Z, was destroyed in an accident near Mountain View, Wyoming. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during cruise flight resulting in an impact with terrain. Contributing factors were the wind gust and high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2007 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mountain View, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zenair CH 701SP
- Registration
- N281Z · registry record · serial 7-9565
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was to deliver the airplane to a new owner in California. Prior to departure, he checked the weather via computer and had the airplane refueled. The pilot reported "the flight was routine and I was cruising at 8,500 [feet mean sea level] and 80 [miles per hour indicated airspeed] with the landing gear retracted in the floats. Approximately 55 minutes into the flight and over flat terrain with no trees...I encountered an extreme wind gust which caused a severe right yaw, a left bank of approximately 45 degrees, and severe sink...Engine power was full. I could not regain aircraft control or stop the descent. The yaw attitude switched violently from right to left yaw." Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and was destroyed by post-impact fire. The airplane came to rest in a open field at an estimated elevation of 7,500 feet. The pilot's calculated density altitude was 11,800 feet, and he reported the wind was from 220 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 24 knots. The pilot stated that the airplane had no mechanical problems during the flight, and he had accumulated 4 hours in the accident airplane.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,683 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 101 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY
- Destination: 36U Heber City UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.