Amateur-built CH701 accident near Oakdale, California, May 13, 2009
On May 13, 2009 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CH701, registered N701LD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Oakdale, California (Oakdale 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswind conditions while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 2009 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Oakdale, California · Oakdale · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH701
- Registration
- N701LD · registry record · serial 6223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he observed a strong crosswind from the right while on final approach to the destination airport. Just prior to touchdown, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline. The airplane continued to drift and touched down in a grass-covered field adjacent to the runway surface. While on the landing roll, the airplane traveled downslope and the nosewheel became embedded in the terrain surface, resulting in it nosing over to an inverted position. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred structural damage to the rudder. The pilot recalled that the wind velocity at the time of the accident was about 20 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
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 control in flight during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: powered-lift
- Flight time: 1,870 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,870 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 18, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 53 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 28, 2008; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: E79 Fresno CA at 6:40 pm
- Destination: 027 Oakdale CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,020 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MOD, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.