Accident Summary
On July 12, 2025, at approximately 1250 mountain daylight time, a Zenith CH601 HDS airplane, registration N314LB, was destroyed following an accident in the Pawnee National Grasslands, Colorado. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Flight History
According to the pilot’s son, the airplane departed Rexburg-Madison Airport in Rexburg, Idaho, early that morning. It landed at Central Wyoming Regional Airport (RIW) in Riverton, Wyoming, where the pilot refueled. The airplane then departed RIW en route to Goodland, Kansas, where the pilot planned to spend the night.
Accident Sequence
ADS-B data indicated the airplane was primarily on a southeast heading before turning south and beginning a descent during the final 90 seconds of recorded data. A witness at the accident site reported that the airplane descended in a wings-level, nose-low attitude, with the engine running at what sounded like full throttle. The witness stated that as the aircraft neared the ground, its pitch attitude did not change, remaining nose-low toward the terrain. The airplane struck the ground, bounced twice, and came to rest upright.
Wreckage and Site Information
The accident site was on a sloping grassy prairie approximately 24 nautical miles northeast of Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY) in Greeley, Colorado. The initial impact occurred on a magnetic heading of about 240°. The airplane traveled 293 feet from initial impact until the main wreckage came to rest on a heading of approximately 305°. The debris field spanned about 475 feet in length and 125 feet in width. Debris ahead of the main wreckage included pieces of wheel fairings, navigation lights, the right wing tip, top of the cowling, and a lower portion of the right wing. The landing gear and engine were displaced the furthest: the nose landing gear was 55 feet east of the main wreckage, the left main landing gear 85 feet southeast, the right main landing gear 75 feet southwest, and the engine 175 feet southeast.
Aircraft Examination
Control cable continuity was confirmed from the elevator to the control stick, with full range of motion achieved. Both the elevator and elevator balance cables remained intact and connected to the control stick. Full rudder motion was achieved by manipulating the left and right rudder control cables, which remained attached to the rudder fairleads but were impact-separated from the rudder pedals. The wings remained attached to the fuselage, although both were partially separated from the wing roots. The bottom portion of the right wing was separated and found in the debris field. Both wings were twisted and exhibited leading edge crush damage. The ailerons remained attached, and full aileron travel was achieved by manipulating the cables, which were traced back to the control stick.
Fuel System
The airplane was equipped with three fuel tanks: one in each wing and a center tank behind the instrument panel. Although fuel was present in each wing tank, both tanks were breached, preventing an accurate measurement of the fuel at the time of the accident. The center fuel tank contained an unmeasured amount of fuel.
Further Action
The airplane was retained for further examination.