Amateur-built CH801 accident near Jackpot, Nevada, September 11, 2025
On September 11, 2025 at about 4:05 pm local time, a 2010 amateur-built CH801, registered N801CS, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Jackpot, Nevada (Jackpot/Hayden Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2025 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Jackpot, Nevada · Jackpot/Hayden Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CH801, built 2010
- Registration
- N801CS · registry record · serial 8-4037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 11, 2025, about 0905 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith CH801, N801CS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jackpot, Navada. The pilot and three passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane had just been purchased, and the planned itinerary was to depart Grants Pass Airport (3S8), Grants Pass, Oregon, to their final destination of Wichita, Kansas with multiple fuel stops. After conducting a planned rest stop at Jackpot Airport/Hayden Field (06U), Jackpot, Nevada, he conducted a preflight inspection of the airplane, which included verifying fuel levels with the use of a dip stick. The pilot taxied to runway 33, where he performed an uneventful engine runup. During takeoff on runway 33, the engine initially developed full power of 4,500 rpm. When the airplane was approximately two miles northwest of 06U, the engine rpm decayed to about 3,700 rpm. Subsequently, the airplane could not maintain altitude over rising terrain and the pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field with sparse vegetation. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the surface, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane has been secured for examination.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 4, 2025; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 06U Jackpot NV
- Destination: TWF Twin Falls ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15/3, 6,180 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from KTWF, 31 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTWF 111453Z 21007KT 10SM CLR 14/04 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP125 T01440039 53013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.