Amateur-built Zodiac CH-601-H accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, July 13, 2002
On July 13, 2002, a amateur-built Zodiac CH-601-H, registered N422EZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wadsworth, Ohio (Weltzien Skypark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's overrotation after take off, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. A factor was the pilot's decision to take off with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2002
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · Weltzien Skypark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zodiac CH-601-H
- Registration
- N422EZ · no longer on the register · serial 6-3171
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated private pilot/owner attempted a take off with quartering tailwind. He applied full power, and the airplane accelerated and lifted off as expected. After liftoff and acceleration in ground effect, the airplane would not climb. The pilot then pulled back more, got the nose of the airplane too high and entered a stall. The airplane sank, struck the tail, continued off the departure end of the runway, crossed a road, and came to rest between trees.
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: 384 hours in all; 282 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 288 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 30, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 282 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2002; 19.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 15G Wadsworth OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,360 ft by 37 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
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.