Saturday, July 17, 2021

Zenith CH750 Cruzer, N9667Z: Accident occurred July 17, 2021 in Blossom, Lamar County, Texas

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Irving, Texas
Location: Blossom, TX
Accident Number: CEN21LA326
Date & Time: July 17, 2021, 16:30 Local 
Registration: N9667Z
Aircraft: GARY JAMES LAIL ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On July 17, 2021, about 1630 central daylight time, a Zenith CH 750 airplane, N9667Z, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Blossom, Texas. The pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the airplane departed a nearby private grass strip when it experienced a rudder control malfunction. The pilot tried to land back at the grass strip but departed the runway and onto a road. During the runway excursion, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

A postaccident examination of the flight controls revealed that a rubber cable end was loose from its swage.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GARY JAMES LAIL
Registration: N9667Z
Model/Series: ZENITH CH 750 CRUZER 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KPRX,547 ft msl
Observation Time: 16:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 4 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C /22°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 5000 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 180°
Lowest Ceiling: 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.02 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious 
Latitude, Longitude: 33.650126,-95.382786

BLOSSOM, Texas - Two Blossom residents were taken to Paris Regional Medical Center after their experimental plane crashed shortly after takeoff from a private air strip in Blossom on Saturday.

At about 4 p.m. Saturday, department of public safety troopers were called to investigate the crash. Preliminary investigation revealed that an experimental plane crashed shortly after takeoff from a private air strip. The aircraft landed on Patriot Drive in Blossom.

The pilot, Earl Unruh, 66, and passenger Lenita Unruh, 62, both of Blossom, were transported to Paris Regional Medical Center via Paris EMS with non-life threatening injuries sustained in the crash, according to information provided by Trooper Mark Tackett.

1 comment:

  1. local conditions @ 3:56 PM 93 °F 71 °F 49 % S 14 mph 20 mph 29.44 in 0.0 in Fair

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