Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER accident near Maricopa, Arizona, March 6, 2024
On March 6, 2024 at about 3:07 pm local time, a 2007 Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, registered N601CF, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Maricopa, Arizona (Ak-Chin 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 failure to maintain pitch control, which resulted in abnormal contact with the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 6, 2024 · about 3:07 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona · Ak-Chin · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, built 2007 · all SPORTCRUISERs on the register
- Registration
- N601CF · registry record · serial 07SC051
- 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 the takeoff roll and after pulling the control stick back to initiate rotation, the airplane pulled off the ground quickly. Concerned the airplane would stall, the pilot then pushed the stick forward. The airplane’s nose lowered which resulted in the nosewheel contacting the runway surface and folding back. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 takeoff 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 › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 247 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 48 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 130 as pilot in command; 2 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 27, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,619.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 21, 2023; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 375 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,751 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 am from KCGZ, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KCGZ 061456Z AUTO 09004KT 10SM CLR 11/05 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP126 6//// T01110050 53009 PNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 22, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N601CF on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER 69 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro 74 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS 62 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ak-Chin Regional · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,431 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR24LA108.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.