Amateur-built Zodiac CH 601 HDS accident near Jamestown, Ohio, July 6, 2007
On July 6, 2007 at about 4:15 pm local time, a amateur-built Zodiac CH 601 HDS, registered N43207, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jamestown, Ohio (Bloom airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons, the pilot not performing an aborted takeoff at the initial recognition of a loss of engine performance, and the stall/mush the pilot encountered after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2007 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Jamestown, Ohio · Bloom
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zodiac CH 601 HDS
- Registration
- N43207 · no longer on the register · serial 63598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain following takeoff and was consumed by a post-impact ground fire. The pilot stated that the engine "was not able to provide sufficient power to keep me airborne even in ground effect." The pilot tried to "coax the plane into the air and jump the canal and land in a soybean field." The pilot stated that the left wing dropped, he realized he was stalling, he lowered the nose of the airplane, and it subsequently impacted terrain. An examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The pilot stated that he should have briefed an abort with his student prior to the flight.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 13,900 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 4,499 as pilot in command; 895 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Flight time: 5 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 194 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 14I Jamestown OH at 4:15 pm
- Destination: SGH Springfield OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 1,220 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from SGH, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.