Amateur-built VM-1 Esqual accident near Cambridge, Ohio, May 1, 2004
On May 1, 2004 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built VM-1 Esqual, registered N626EA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cambridge, Ohio (Cambridge Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the inadequate brake system installed on the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2004 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cambridge, Ohio · Cambridge Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VM-1 Esqual
- Registration
- N626EA · no longer on the register · serial E180032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted a takeoff in the homebuilt airplane. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway, struck runway lights, and went into a creek. A post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that it was equipped with a free-castoring nose wheel and motorcycle brakes. It was found that the left brake dragged due to a lack of clearance between the brake pad and brake rotor. The lack of clearance was attributable to the design of the brakes and their adaptation from a motorcycle to an airplane.
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: 519 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 519 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 138.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 2004; 14.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 3300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDI Cambridge OH
- Destination: PHD New Philadelphi OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,298 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,100 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:42 pm from ZZV, 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.