Amateur-built ZODIAC 601 HDS accident near Lawrenceville, Georgia, July 23, 2014
On July 23, 2014 at about 6:12 pm local time, a 2005 amateur-built ZODIAC 601 HDS, registered N4399, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Lawrenceville, Georgia (Gwinnett County 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 inadequate flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2014 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrenceville, Georgia · Gwinnett County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZODIAC 601 HDS, built 2005
- Registration
- N4399 · no longer on the register · serial 6-4211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during landing, the nose landing gear collapsed, separated, and the airplane skidded down the runway prior to coming to rest. The pilot further reported that the landing attitude was level and all three landing gear touched down about the same time. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the nose landing gear and the firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the 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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 490 hours in all; 185 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 25, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 185 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 14, 2014; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: General Motors 2700 (piston); 185 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LZU Lawrenceville GA
- Destination: LZU Lawrenceville GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 6:25 pm from KLZU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.