Chech Aircraft Works Spol Sro CH 601 XL RTF N357DT

Summary

On 7 April 2008 at about 21:01 local time, a Chech Aircraft Works Spol Sro CH 601 XL RTF registered N357DT, operated by Robert E. Dodson, was involved in an accident near Polk City, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 April 2008 at 21:01

Classification

Accident

Location

Polk City, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.1794, -81.8201

Aircraft

Chech Aircraft Works Spol Sro CH 601 XL RTF

Registration

N357DT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert E. Dodson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Williston → Lakeland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08FA158

1 person died.

The in-flight failure of the left wing for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After stopping for fuel, the pilot departed for the second leg of a cross-country flight. About 45 minutes after departing, witnesses observed the special light sport airplane banking and yawing before one of its wings "folded up" and the airplane descended to the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing had failed in an upward (or positive) direction due to a fracture of the lower left wing spar chord. The subsequent overload failure of the wing resulted in a loss of control of the airplane. Metallurgical examination did not reveal any evidence of preexisting conditions or design or material deficiencies that may have contributed to the in-flight structural failure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.