Challenger II CW accident near Marysville, Ohio, June 30, 2016
On June 30, 2016 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2009 Challenger II CW, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N788RH, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Marysville, Ohio (Union County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 2016 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marysville, Ohio · Union County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Challenger II CW, built 2009, amateur-built
- Registration
- N788RH · registry record · serial 0788
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot of the light sport airplane reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot made a left turn to land on a grass runway parallel to the departure runway; the airplane sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. The pilot reported that one of the spark plugs had come out of the 2-cylinder engine; however, it could not be determined if the displacement occurred before or during the impact. No further examination of the engine was performed, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during post (impact)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Spark plugs/igniters › Failure
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 92 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 783 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 8, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 3203 (piston); 140 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRT Marysville OH at 4:00 pm
- Destination: MRT Marysville OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,218 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 4:14 pm from KMRT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on August 7, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-operator Aircraft Accident Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.