Amateur-built ZENAIR STOL CH-701 accident near Grayslake, Illinois, June 12, 1993
On June 12, 1993 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built ZENAIR STOL CH-701, registered N701CM, was destroyed in an accident near Grayslake, Illinois (Campbell Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT TYPE WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1993 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Grayslake, Illinois · Campbell Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZENAIR STOL CH-701 ZENAIR STO
- Registration
- N701CM · registry record · serial 7-1275
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER INITIAL TAKE-OFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN 'UNCONTROLLABLE TURN TO THE LEFT.' THE PILOT REPORTED THE TURN 'BACAME STEEPER AND SOON WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE PLANE IN AN INVERTED POSITION.' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND WAS DESTROYED BY AN ON-GROUND EXPLOSION AND FIRE. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR ACCESSORIES.
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; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 338 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 338 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, June 12, 1993; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: C81
- Destination: C81
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,270 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:57 pm from UGN, 11 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.