Zodiac CH 650B N22LZ

Summary

On 7 September 2025 at about 14:20 local time, a Zodiac CH 650B registered N22LZ was involved in an accident near Sturgis, Michigan, 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

7 September 2025 at 14:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Sturgis, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Kirsch Municipal (IRS)

Coordinates

41.8133, -85.4390

Aircraft

Zodiac CH 650B

Registration

N22LZ

Category

Airplane

Year built

2021

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sturgis → Sturgis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA369

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control while landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting takeoffs and landings in the airplane at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the initial takeoff and landing were completed without incident. The second takeoff was uneventful; however, on final approach for the second landing, the airplane ballooned about 10 ft above the runway when it encountered a wind gust. The pilot reported that he was late in initiating a go-around. The airplane bounced and then impacted on the nose landing gear resulting in the collapse. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and right wing. The pilot noted that the wind increased from about 4 knots at the beginning of the flight, to about 10 knots with gusts to 15 knots. He stated there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane before the accident. He added that additional airspeed on approach during gusty wind conditions might have prevented the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.