Amateur-built ZODIAC CH 601 HD accident near Nauvoo, Illinois, July 12, 1999
On July 12, 1999, a amateur-built ZODIAC CH 601 HD, registered N6781Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nauvoo, Illinois (Ceader Ridge Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to follow the airplane checklist to pin the canopy before departure, resulting in the opening of the canopy on take off and the subsequent aerodynamic stall and ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1999
- Place
- Nauvoo, Illinois · Ceader Ridge Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZODIAC CH 601 HD ZODIAC CH
- Registration
- N6781Z · no longer on the register · serial 6-3226HD
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was distracted during his pre-departure checklist procedures and forgot to pin the canopy. During the take off roll, as the airplane lifted off the runway the canopy popped open, resulting in excessive drag and an aerodynamic stall. The airplane then collided with the ground on the edge of a pond and nosed over into the water.
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: 196 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 196 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 121 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 17, 1998; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9IS0
- Destination: BRL Burlington IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from EOK, 7 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.