Amateur-built CH 701 SP accident near Bremerton, Washington, September 7, 2009
On September 7, 2009 at about 1:26 am local time, a amateur-built CH 701 SP, registered N701V, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Bremerton, Washington (Bremerton National 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty wind conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 2009 · about 1:26 am local time
- Place
- Bremerton, Washington · Bremerton National Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH 701 SP
- Registration
- N701V · registry record · serial 5215
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he was taxiing to runway 19 for departure. The reported winds were from 190 degrees at 18 knots gusting to 26 knots. The pilot taxied to the end of the runway after performing all the preflight checks and he turned to a downwind direction to check for landing traffic. As the airplane turned, the right wing began to rise and the airplane nosed over, bending and wrinkling both wings, the empennage, and the rudder.
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 on ground during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 282 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 233 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 222 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 15, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,160 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWT Bremerton WA at 1:28 am
- Destination: PWT Bremerton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 21 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from PWT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR09CA433.