Amateur-built ZODIAC CH601XL accident near Winder, Georgia, May 29, 2021
On May 29, 2021 at about 3:50 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built ZODIAC CH601XL, registered N601MX, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Winder, Georgia (Barrow 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
Pilot’s inadequate supervision of the pilot rated passenger’s actions, which led to a high descent rate and collision with obstacles.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2021 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Winder, Georgia · Barrow County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZODIAC CH601XL, built 2006
- Registration
- N601MX · registry record · serial 6-4025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying with a pilot rated passenger who was becoming familiar with the flight characteristics of the airplane. As they turned final for the runway, the airplane began a rapid descent. The. pilot took control of the airplane and added full power for a go-around; however, he was unable to recover. The airplane subsequently struck an airport light pole, lost directional control, and came to rest inverted in a gravel parking lot, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated he did not monitor the developing situation fast enough to recover. He reported that the airplane had no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Pilot
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 18,437 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 12,354 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 344 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 3, 2020; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: General Motors Corvair (piston); 78 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13/3, 5,202 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 60°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from WDR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 26, 2022. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation_pilot Owner | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array_accident Site and Damage | PDF, 4 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.