Amateur-built ZENITH ZODIAC 650B accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 5, 2026
On July 5, 2026 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2014 amateur-built ZENITH ZODIAC 650B, registered N452VC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (aborted after touchdown) near Colorado Springs, Colorado (Meadow Lake Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and their subsequent loss control of during a go-around. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 2026 · about 5:30 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · Meadow Lake Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENITH ZODIAC 650B, built 2014
- Registration
- N452VC · registry record · serial 65-8452
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in the airport traffic pattern to familiarize the pilot with a recently purchased airplane. The flight instructor reported that, on the final landing, the pilot pitched the nose of the airplane up too aggressively for the flare. As a result of the high nose up attitude the airplane stalled, landed hard, and bounced back into the air. The pilot applied full engine power; however, the airplane remained in a nose up attitude, yawed to right, and bounced a second time. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway surface and the right wing collided with an airport sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. According to the flight instructor, after the second bounced landing, he directed the pilot to reduce the throttle to idle. The flight instructor added that on his side of the airplane he did not have access to the throttle or brakes, only shared access to the center control stick. The pilot receiving instruction reported that there were no 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (aborted after touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Yaw control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 194.8 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 14.6 in the last 90 days; 5.1 in the last 30 days; 49.1 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 0 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 15, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 1, 2025; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ul Power 350i (piston); 60 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,001 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.34 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KFLY
Weather report (METAR): METAR KFLY 051735Z AUTO 13004KT 10SM CLR 28/07 A3034 RMK AO2 T02770073
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N452VC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N452VC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Ul Power 350i 29 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Meadow Lake Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 384 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,469 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N452VC 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR26LA243.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.