Amateur-built ZENAIR CH-701 accident near South Bend, Arkansas, September 29, 1993
On September 29, 1993 at about 10:15 pm local time, a amateur-built ZENAIR CH-701, registered N27DK, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Bend, Arkansas (Perry Private 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 ENGINE POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF AVAILABLE RUNWAY ONTO WHICH THE FORCED LANDING COULD BE EXECUTED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 1993 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- South Bend, Arkansas · Perry Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENAIR CH-701 ZENAIR CH-
- Registration
- N27DK · registry record · serial 7-1347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE POWER LOSS SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF FROM THE PRIVATE STRIP. HE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING STRAIGHT AHEAD AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE AIRPLANE BACK ONTO THE TAKEOFF RUNWAY. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE END INTO A HEDGE ROW. THE PILOT STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, THE ENGINE STARTED AND RAN NORMALLY AT IDLE, BUT HE COULD NOT TEST IT AT OTHER POWER SETTINGS.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 542 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 542 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 11:15 pm
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.