Amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH 701 accident near Deer Park, Washington, October 19, 2013
On October 19, 2013 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH 701, registered N2849C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Deer Park, Washington (Deer Park 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 flare and failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 2013 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Deer Park, Washington · Deer Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH STOL CH 701 NO SERIES, built 2010
- Registration
- N2849C · registry record · serial 7084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that during the landing flare, the airplane encountered a tailwind that caused the airplane to rapidly descend and land hard. The airplane touched down on all three wheels and then began to encounter pitch oscillations that caused the nose wheel to collapse. Subsequently the airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 71.1 hours in all; 24.6 in this make and model; 23.7 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 16, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Great Plains Type I (piston); 28 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEW Deer Park WA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: DEW Deer Park WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from DEW
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.