Amateur-built ZODIAC CH-600 accident near Columbia, Missouri, October 15, 1995
On October 15, 1995 at about 6:50 pm local time, a amateur-built ZODIAC CH-600, registered N596WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbia, Missouri (Flying C airport). 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 LOSS OF ELEVATOR CONTROL AS A RESULT OF THE TOP ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLE WORKING ITS WAY OUT OF A FITTING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1995 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Missouri · Flying C · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZODIAC CH-600 ZODIAC CH-
- Registration
- N596WC · no longer on the register · serial 6-964
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS 'COMING IN TO LAND' AND HAD 'STARTED TO FLARE WHEN THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER,' APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET AGL AND OVER THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID HE HAD NO ELEVATOR CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT THE BASE OF TREES JUST RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE SHOWED THE TOP ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLE HAD WORKED ITS WAY OUT OF THE NICOPRESS OVAL SLEEVE FITTING WHICH HOLDS THE CABLE IN PLACE AFTER RUNNING THROUGH THE TOP ELEVATOR ACTUATOR ARM. THE ELEVATOR WAS FOUND IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION. THE AIRPLANE'S LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED 11/14/94. THE AIRPLANE HAD LOGGED 10 HOURS SINCE THAT INSPECTION.
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: 950 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1994; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-81-7L-95 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from COU, 15 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.