Amateur-built Z MAX accident near Delaware, Ohio, May 8, 1993
On May 8, 1993 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Z MAX, registered N72GR, was destroyed in an accident near Delaware, Ohio. 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
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1993 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delaware, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Z MAX
- Registration
- N72GR · registry record · serial 382
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING CRUISE, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TRIED TO REGAIN POWER BY SWITCHING FUEL TANKS, BUT HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE STATED THAT HE PICKED A FIELD TO LAND IN AND STARTED TO DESCEND. DURING AN APPROACH FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A ROW OF TREES AND SHEARED THE RIGHT WING OFF OF THE FUSELAGE. THE ONSCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S THREE FUEL TANKS. THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE WERE DAMAGED BY IMPACT FORCES. NO AIRFRAME ANOMALIES WERE NOTED.
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; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 3,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 720 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Zenoah G50 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: I78 Marysville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from OSU, 30 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.