Amateur-built Zodiac CH 601 HDS accident near Mt. Olive, North Carolina, February 26, 2005
On February 26, 2005 at about 8:40 pm local time, a amateur-built Zodiac CH 601 HDS, registered N2521B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mt. Olive, North Carolina (Mount Olive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Rupture of the engine's cooling system radiator, which allowed steam to fill the cockpit.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 26, 2005 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mt. Olive, North Carolina · Mount Olive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zodiac CH 601 HDS
- Registration
- N2521B · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot and the owner, shortly after takeoff the engine coolant radiator burst filling the cockpit with what he thought was smoke, The pilot stated that visibility quickly went to zero and he attempted to release the cockpit canopy to clear the smoke but collided with trees before he could get it open. The wings and under carriage were damaged. Examination of the airplane found that the engine coolant radiator tank failed at the forward belly of the airplane. There was no evidence of a fire.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 694 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 10, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 68 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 2004; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Stratus Subaru EA81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Mt. Olive NC
- Destination: PVT Mount Olive NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from GSB, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.