Zenith 701 accident near Big Lake, AK
On September 9, 2013, a Zenith 701 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Big Lake, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 9, 2013
- Place
- Big Lake, AK
- Aircraft
- Zenith 701 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 61.459°N, 150.090°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130910X21958
Official records · ANC13FA095
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 9, 2013 about 1300 Alaska daylight time, an experimental light sport (E-LSA) homebuilt Whedbee Kenneth Mikel, Zenith CH-701 airplane, N701MG, sustained substantial damage after it impacted the ground, following a loss of control, about 4 miles northwest of Big Lake, Alaska. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the sole passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to, and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Kucera Residence Airport, Big Lake, Alaska about 1218. According to a family member of the pilot, a large male grizzly bear had been leaving tracks on the family's private runway over the last several years. When a report came in that the grizzly had been seen protecting a moose kill in the area, the pilot decided to take the airplane, and see if he could locate the bear. The surviving passenger was not available for an interview, and did not provide a statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC). PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 66, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He did not hold a FAA medical certificate, nor was he required to while operating an E-LSA airplane. No personal flight log books were located for the pilot. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The accident airplane was an experimental amateur built, Zenith CH-701. The airplan
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in a stall and subsequent spin from which he could not recover.
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Browse: Alaska · Zenith aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
