Amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH 701 accident near Springfield, Illinois, February 24, 2019
On February 24, 2019 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2018 amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH 701, registered N8436S, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Springfield, Illinois (Abraham Lincoln Capital airport). It was a flight test 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 pilot's improper crosswind correction during taxi operations in gusting crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 2019 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Illinois · Abraham Lincoln Capital · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH 701 No Series, built 2018
- Registration
- N8436S · registry record · serial 7-10826
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after landing, while taxiing in gusting wind conditions, the airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. He added that, a few minutes after the airplane was righted, it flipped over again. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airport's automated weather observation system reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 270° at 27 knots, gusting to 41 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during taxi (from runway)
- Loss of control on ground during taxi (from runway) defining event
- Roll over during taxi (from runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 606 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 523 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 27, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 37 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ulpower Aero Engines UL260 (piston); 37 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPI Springfield IL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: SPI Springfield IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 7,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 27 knots, gusting 41
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from KSPI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 4, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Picture | PDF, 1 page | 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.