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June 12, 1993 · Claude E Merrin Zenair STOL CH-701 Zenair STO · N701CM

Grayslake, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 12, 1993
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Grayslake, IL
Aircraft
Claude E Merrin Zenair STOL CH-701 Zenair STO
Tail Number
N701CM
Operator
Claude E Merrin
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI93LA206

JUST AFTER INITIAL TAKE-OFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN 'UNCONTROLLABLE TURN TO THE LEFT.' THE PILOT REPORTED THE TURN 'BACAME STEEPER AND SOON WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE PLANE IN AN INVERTED POSITION.' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND WAS DESTROYED BY AN ON-GROUND EXPLOSION AND FIRE. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR ACCESSORIES.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT TYPE WAS A FACTOR.

Full Narrative

On June 12, 1993, about 1100 central daylight time, a homebuilt Zenair STOL CH-701, N701CM, was destroyed when it collided with the ground in Grayslake, Illinois. The student pilot was departing Campbell Airport, Grayslake, Illinois, in visual meteorological conditions with no flight plan filed for the personal flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was seriously injured. Just after initial take-off, the pilot experienced an "uncontrollable turn to the left." The pilot reported the turn "became steeper and soon was in the process of putting the plane in an inverted position." The aircraft impacted the ground, and was destroyed by an on-ground explosion and fire. A witness reportedly observed the aircraft taking off from Runway 09. He said the aircraft became airborne within 100 to 150 feet, then almost immediately after taking off, the aircraft's left wing "drooped" and the aircraft turned north. It then drooped again and turned northwest. The witness stated it then appeared that the aircraft would collide with another aircraft on the ground. Then, the nose came up slightly and the left wind came down, impacting the ground. The pilot submitted the left and right control horns and rods to be examined. The left control horn plate was fractured, and the left control rod was bent. The control horn plate fracture has the granular appearance of an instantaneous failure. The compression bend in the left control rod, as well as the instantaneous type failure are indicative of impact damage. The right plate and rod were not damaged. The aircraft was new, with approximately 2 hours total flight time, and the owner/pilot had only 1.5 hours in type, at the time of the accident. Post accident examination revealed no mechanical malfunction with the airframe, engine or accessories.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:00 CDT
Nearest AirportCampbell Airport (0nm)
Runway0
Runway Length3270 ft
Runway Width40 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftClaude E Merrin Zenair STOL CH-701 Zenair STO
Tail NumberN701CM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorClaude E Merrin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 582 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind90° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point66 F / 55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:57
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data