Amateur-built ZENITH CRUZER accident near Chatham, Massachusetts, August 14, 2026
On August 14, 2026 at about 2:40 pm local time, a amateur-built ZENITH CRUZER, registered N673BK, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Chatham, Massachusetts (Chatham Muni airport). It was a flight test 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 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 14, 2026 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Chatham, Massachusetts · Chatham Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH CRUZER
- Registration
- N673BK · registry record · serial 75-11706
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 14, 2026, about 1040 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith Cruzer, N673BK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chatham, Massachusetts. The pilot and the pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight test. According to the pilot and the owner/builder of the airplane, the accident flight was the airplane’s fourth during its phase one testing. The previous three flights were uneventful except for oil temperature anomalies. The owner/builder had adjusted the oil cooler position and the purpose of the accident flight was to verify whether repositioning the oil cooler improved the engine oil temperature readings. The pilot stated that the accident flight was delayed a short time until wind conditions improved. After observing other aircraft operating in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot and the owner/builder decided to proceed with the flight. The preflight inspection, engine runup, and flight control checks were normal. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported that the left wing dipped, followed by the right wing, and that the airplane subsequently rocked laterally from side to side. The pilot announced to the owner/builder there was a problem and decided to land the airplane on the remaining runway. Video surveillance footage from the airport showed that the airplane impacted the runway in a left wing down attitude, after which the main landing gear collapsed and the nosewheel separated from the fuselage. The wreckage was 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
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 9, 2026; 6 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 3,001 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 am from CQX
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCQX 141352Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 23/15 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP167 T02330150
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.