Zenith Aircraft Company CH 750 accident near Libby, Minnesota, October 7, 2022
On October 7, 2022 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 2010 Zenith Aircraft Company CH 750, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N550ZF, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Libby, Minnesota. 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
The total loss of engine power due to the pilot’s improper fuel management, which led to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2022 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Libby, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Zenith Aircraft Company CH 750 NO SERIES, built 2010, amateur-built
- Registration
- N550ZF · no longer on the register · serial 75-7677
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was conducting a personal flight when the airplane had a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot stated that the flight departed with about 16 gallons of fuel distributed evenly between the left- and right-wing tanks, and both fuel tank gauges indicated about ¾ full before departure. About 30-45 minutes into the flight, the pilot noted that the left fuel tank gauge indicated about ¼ full while the right fuel tank gauge remained about ¾ full. The pilot decided to reposition the fuel selector valve to the right fuel tank to correct the fuel imbalance. The pilot stated that the location of his Apple iPad in the cockpit blocked his view of the right fuel tank gauge, so he made a “mental note” to check the right fuel tank gauge in about 30-45 minutes. The pilot reported that the flight continued uneventfully at 300 ft above ground level until the airplane had a total loss of engine power due to a lack of fuel in the right fuel tank. The engine did not restart after the pilot repositioned the fuel selector valve to BOTH, turned on the electric fuel boost pump, and engaged the electric starter. Both wings were substantially damaged during the subsequent forced landing in a wooded area. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The low altitude at which the loss of engine power occurred significantly reduced the amount of time available to the pilot to troubleshoot and restore engine power before the forced landing.
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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 510 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 6, 2022; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 510 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AIT Aitkin MN at 7:15 pm
- Destination: HZX Mcgregor MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.42 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from HZX, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHZX 072135Z AUTO 27005KT 10SM SCT043 07/M02 A3042 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Memorandum of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.