Amateur-built ZEN CH701 accident near Shepherd, Montana, March 17, 2021
On March 17, 2021 at about 5:55 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built ZEN CH701, registered N43442, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Shepherd, Montana (Owner'S Private Airstrip 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 unstable approach, and improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing and subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 2021 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Shepherd, Montana · Owner'S Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZEN CH701, built 2010
- Registration
- N43442 · no longer on the register · serial 7-6471
- 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 on final approach to land, the descent was too fast, and he applied power to slow the descent rate. The main landing gear touched down on the runway surface and the airplane bounced with a nose high attitude. While pitching the airplane forward to correct, he misjudged the height above the runway, the propeller impacted the runway surface and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 865 hours in all; 56 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 786 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 11, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 513 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 2, 2020; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,152 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 350 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRPX Roundup MT at 3:20 pm
- Destination: PVT Shepherd MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway N/A, 1,005 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from BIL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 1, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Damage Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.