Amateur-built ZEN AIR CH701 accident near Raymond, Wisconsin, April 3, 1990
On April 3, 1990 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ZEN AIR CH701, registered N360JN, was substantially damaged in an accident near Raymond, 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
MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE FUEL DRAIN. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S DISREGARDING THE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 3, 1990 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Raymond, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZEN AIR CH701 ZEN AIR CH
- Registration
- N360JN · no longer on the register · serial 7-1360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL, HOME BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS CONDUCTING A ROUND-ROBIN CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ON THE LAST LEG OF THE FLIGHT THE ENGINE SUFFERED A TOTAL POWER LOSS AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE ON SOFT TERRAIN. ON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL DRAIN WAS UNABLE TO RESTRAIN THE FUEL AND A QUANITY OF THE FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT DURING 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 192 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 30, 1990; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAC Racine WI at 1:50 pm
- Destination: RAC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from MKE, 18 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.