Amateur-built Zenith CH 701 accident near Brussels, Wisconsin, October 16, 2003
On October 16, 2003 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Zenith CH 701, registered N701US, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brussels, Wisconsin. 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 partial 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
- October 16, 2003 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Brussels, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zenith CH 701
- Registration
- N701US · no longer on the register · serial 7-4514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur built airplane collided with trees during a forced landing following a go-around on runway 18 (1,000 feet by 20 feet, grass). The pilot stated he was not happy with the approach so he initiated a go-around from an altitude of about 15 feet above the ground. He reported the engine only produced about 4,000 rpm instead of the normal 5,300 rpm when he applied full power. The pilot reported he was unable to sustain a climb with the reduced power and the airplane settled into trees in a wooded area off the south end of the airstrip. The airplane was powered by a Rotax 912 UL, 80 horsepower engine. The engine had accumulated about 100 hours when the pilot purchased it with an additional 2 hours since it was installed on the accident airplane. On the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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: 235 hours in all; 75 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 1, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: type not recorded, January 1, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Brussels WI at 10:30 pm
- Destination: PVT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from GRB, 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.
Other NTSB records under N701US the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.