Amateur-built Zenair CH 701 accident near Mansfield, Ohio, July 1, 2004
On July 1, 2004 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Zenair CH 701, registered N98EH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mansfield, Ohio (Mansfield Lahm Regional). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a precautionary landing. A factor was the pilot's unapproved maintenance modification resulting in the loss of oil pressure and partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2004 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mansfield, Ohio · Mansfield Lahm Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Zenair CH 701
- Registration
- N98EH · no longer on the register · serial 01
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff and initial climb, the engine power was 100 rpm lower than expected, and the oil pressure decreased to 0. The pilot initiated a left turn for a precautionary landing at the airport. The engine continued to lose power during the approach, but it did not experience a total loss of power. The airplane was not aligned with the centerline as it touched down on a runway, and traveled off the left side. Examination of the airplane revealed that the pilot had recently installed a homemade oil cooler adapter on the certificated engine.
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: 360 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MFD Mansfield OH
- Destination: MFD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 6,795 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
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.