Amateur-built ZODIAC CH 601 accident near Wooster, Ohio, July 29, 2000
On July 29, 2000 at about 8:22 pm local time, a amateur-built ZODIAC CH 601, registered N601GS, was destroyed in an accident near Wooster, Ohio (Wayne 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 pilot's loss of control of the airplane while turning from base onto final, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. A factor was the pilot's improper loading of the airplane, outside the weight and balance limitations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 2000 · about 8:22 pm local time
- Place
- Wooster, Ohio · Wayne County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ZODIAC CH 601 ZODIAC CH
- Registration
- N601GS · registry record · serial 63797
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was in a left traffic pattern for landing. During the turn from base leg to final, it stalled, and began a spin to the left. Prior to ground impact, the airplane's rotation was stopped; however, the nose came up, and the airplane remained stalled as it hit the ground. There was no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction. The pilot had about 2,030 hours of total flight time, and 111 hours in the accident airplane. At the time of the accident, the airplane's center of gravity was aft of the rearward limit by 3.13 inches, and it's weight was 21.5 pounds over maximum gross weight.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,031 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 879 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 111 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: YNG Youngstown OH at 7:13 pm
- Destination: BJJ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 5,193 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from BJJ
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.