Amateur-built ZENITH 601 HDS accident near Ripley Landing, West Virginia, August 15, 2026
On August 15, 2026 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built ZENITH 601 HDS, registered N601EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near Ripley Landing, West Virginia (Jackson County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2026 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ripley Landing, West Virginia · Jackson County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH 601 HDS, built 2004
- Registration
- N601EZ · registry record · serial 6-4117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 15, 2026, about 1300 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Zenith 601 HDS airplane, N601EZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ripley Landing, West Virginia. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed Jackson County Airport, Ravenswood, West Virginia (I18), with the intention of practicing touch and go landings at the airport. The pilot reported that during the left turn onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost all power. The pilot turned the airplane towards the airport but did not have enough altitude to glide to it. The pilot made an emergency off field landing in a tree clearing about 1.2 miles south-southeast of the airport. Upon touchdown, the nose gear impacted terrain, the airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot was trapped under the wreckage until the following day when he was located by first responders about 0900. The wreckage was recovered and retained for further examination.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: I18 Ravenswood WV at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PKB, 31 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPKB 151653Z 00000KT 10SM OVC012 25/21 A3021 RMK AO2 SLP222 T02500206=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.