Johnson ZODIAC CH-601-HDS accident near Orange, Texas, April 5, 2000
On April 5, 2000 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Johnson ZODIAC CH-601-HDS, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N601GJ, was destroyed in an accident near Orange, Texas (Orange County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadvertent stall while maneuvering. A contributing factor was the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 2000 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Orange, Texas · Orange County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Johnson ZODIAC CH-601-HDS ZODIAC CH-, amateur-built
- Registration
- N601GJ · no longer on the register · serial 6-3716
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The single-engine experimental homebuilt airplane impacted the terrain while maneuvering in day visual meteorological conditions in the local area. Witnesses heard the engine stall, quit, and restart. Other witnesses observed the airplane stall and spiral down towards the ground in a clockwise direction. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose low attitude. Flight control continuity was confirmed. According to the manufacturer representative, who examined the engine, 'there was no engine condition identified which could be directly associated to engine failure or stoppage.' It could not be determined which of the two private pilots aboard the airplane was on the flight controls at the time of the accident.
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: 347 hours in all; 168 in this make and model; 104 in the last 90 days; 32 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 168 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 1999; 143 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: ORG at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,396 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from BPT, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.