Amateur-built ZENITH 701 accident near Turlock, California, August 21, 2010
On August 21, 2010 at about 10:07 pm local time, a amateur-built ZENITH 701, registered N948DW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Turlock, California (Personal Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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 crosswind and failure to maintain runway alignment.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2010 · about 10:07 pm local time
- Place
- Turlock, California · Personal Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH 701
- Registration
- N948DW · no longer on the register · serial 701DW-1
- 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, while the airplane was on final approach, he realized it was not centered on the runway and decided to execute a go-around. The second approach was normal. During the landing flare, the airplane floated longer than usual and drifted towards the right side of the runway in crosswind conditions. As the airplane touched down, the right main wheel encountered a trench and continued to traverse up a berm. Upon reaching the top of the berm, the airplane slid sideways until it came to a rest. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions. The nearest weather reporting station located 12 miles southeast of the accident airport reported at the time of the accident wind was from 330 degrees at 9 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 127 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 700 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 29, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 127 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 4, 2009; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISN Los Banos CA at 4:30 pm
- Destination: N/A Turlock CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 900 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KMOD, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.