Amateur-built CH701 accident near Snohomish, Washington, October 3, 2013
On October 3, 2013 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built CH701, registered N143TZ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Snohomish, Washington (Harvey Field). 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
A jammed rudder control while maneuvering in the pattern for reasons that could not be determined. No follow-up examination was conducted due to a lapse in agency funding and subsequent government shutdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2013 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Snohomish, Washington · Harvey Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH701
- Registration
- N143TZ · no longer on the register · serial 7-5884
- 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 during a test flight the airplane encountered moderate turbulence so he decided to return to the airport for landing. While turning to the crosswind leg in the pattern, the airplane suddenly banked sharply and descended uncontrollably. The pilot was able to regain control about 500 feet above ground level, and managed to turn the airplane to the downwind leg, but he continued to have difficulty maintaining control. The pilot then decided to make an emergency off airport landing to a field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with obstructions and nosed over. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. After the accident, the pilot reported that the loss of aircraft control was due to a jammed rudder for undetermined reasons.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Malfunction
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 223 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 223 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 12, 2013; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 3 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S43 Snohomish WA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: S43 Snohomish WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:00 pm from PAE, 10 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.