Amateur-built Zenith CH750 STOL accident near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, May 22, 2016
On May 22, 2016 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2016 amateur-built Zenith CH750 STOL, registered N925PS, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee (Lawrenceburg-Lawrence County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to perform an adequate preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of control due to an improperly-rigged rudder. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to implement and follow proper flight-testing plans.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2016 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrenceburg, Tennessee · Lawrenceburg-Lawrence County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zenith CH750 STOL, built 2016
- Registration
- N925PS · no longer on the register · serial 75-8805
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The sport pilot, who was the owner of the light sport airplane that he had partially assembled, was conducting the airplane's first test flight and had a passenger on board. He stated that, after takeoff, he applied right rudder to maintain runway heading, but the airplane continued to the left. As he applied more right rudder, the severity of the turn increased. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and the airport property and struck trees and terrain before it came to rest. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the rudder was rigged backward, which would have resulted in a left turn upon right pedal application and vice-versa. Examination of maintenance receipts and interviews with the pilot revealed that the pilot purchased the airplane partially assembled. The pilot and mechanics who he hired completed the assembly; however, after the work by other mechanics, the pilot would at times change or redo their work. Although it could not be determined when the rudder was improperly rigged, a preflight inspection would have revealed the discrepancy; therefore, it is unlikely that the pilot conducted a proper preflight inspection before departing on the flight. Additionally, no documentation was found that suggested the pilot had performed planning for the test flight in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration-issued guidance.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Owner/builder
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 4 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4.1 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 16, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Conintental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2M2 Lawrenceburg TN at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 2M2 Lawrenceburg TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KMRC, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 24, 2018. 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 | Memo for Record - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.