Pilot Debrief

ZENITH 701 near Big Lake, AK — 2013-09-09

Final reportANC13FA095
Sign in to save
Date
2013-09-09
Location
Big Lake, AK, USA
Aircraft
ZENITH 701
Registration
N701MG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1

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.

NTSB narrative

The pilot departed a private runway and subsequently crashed in an area of sparsely populated dead spruce trees. The airplane collided with the ground in a left-wing, nose-low attitude, and impact damage was consistent with a near-vertical descent, indicating that an aerodynamic stall occurred. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine and a test run of the engine revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Given the lack of mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and engine and the airplane damage, it is likely that the pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane at a low altitude and was unable to recover.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen not to fly to locate the bear.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

Related mishaps