Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH N701ZN

Summary

On 29 June 2012 at about 12:00 local time, a Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH registered N701ZN was involved in an accident near Centerburg, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2012 at 12:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Centerburg, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Chapman Memorial Airport (6CM)

Coordinates

40.3009, -82.6898

Aircraft

Steven Bornstein/Thomas Whitta ZENITH

Registration

N701ZN

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Centerburg → Centerburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA410

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s inability to actuate the airplane’s rudder during an attempted go-around for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot performed a low approach to the runway and added engine power to go around. As the pilot added engine power, the airplane began to yaw left. To correct the airplane’s yaw, the pilot attempted to depress the right rudder pedal, but he was unable to move the pedal. The airplane was headed for trees, and the pilot added power in an attempt to takeoff and climb over them; however, the airplane struck the “uppermost” branches. The pilot then reduced engine power and performed a forced landing in a shallow pond. An examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal rudder operation. The two sets of rudder pedals were separated by 1.5 inches, and the pilot had only 3 hours in the accident make and model airplane. Although it is possible that the pilot's right foot inadvertently contacted the left rudder controls and restricted the rudder pedal movement, the investigation was unable to determine the cause of the impeded rudder movement.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.