Amateur-built Zenith CH 701 accident near Jackson, Wyoming, June 28, 2013
On June 28, 2013 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Zenith CH 701, registered N44CP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Jackson, Wyoming (Private Grass Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall during takeoff/initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2013 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Wyoming · Private Grass Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zenith CH 701
- Registration
- N44CP · registry record · serial 7-7365
- 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 the takeoff roll was normal and that he used the standard Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) takeoff procedure. After climbing to about 50 to 75 feet, the right wing suddenly lifted and the wing slats lost their STOL lift. The pilot stated that the airplane then slipped to the left, and being unable to recover, the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in the airplane cartwheeling and coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 922 hours in all; 59 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 20, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 59 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 10, 2012; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jackson WY at 9:00 pm
- Destination: DIJ Driggs ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from U59, 35 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.
Other NTSB records under N44CP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.