# Accident 20011115033029A: Zinair CH2000, Wentzville, MO, November 15, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2001, 18:22 local time
- Place: Wentzville, MO
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8095° N, 90.8496° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8095&lon=-90.8496&mi=10
- Aircraft: N33ZA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33ZA-2002-04-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Zenair CH 2000 (registry code 9950100, https://openairdocs.org/model/zenair-ch-2000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZINAIR CH2000
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011115033029A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A HILLSIDE APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE NORTH OF I-70, AND 40 YARDS WEST OF MO HWY A. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE KILLED AND THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETELY DESTROYED UPON IMPACT. INVESTIGATION AT THE CRASH SITE DISCLOSED NO APPARENT AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL OR POWERPLANT FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE LEFT FUEL TANK SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HYDRAULIC DAMAGE FROM IMPACT, WHILE THE RIGHT TANK DID SHOW SIGNS OF HYDRAULIC IMPACT DAMAGE. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF FIRE, FUEL SMELL, OR OTHER SIGN OF FUEL AT THE SCENE EXCEPT FOR A SMALL AMOUNT IN THE RIGHT FUEL LINE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT HAD ASKED A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR TO CONDUCT THE PREFLIGHT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DIPPED THE TANKS FINDING THAT THE LEFT TANK WAS 1/4 FULL AND THE RIGHT TANK 3/4 FULL. HE INFORMED THE PILOT OF THE FUEL STATUS. A WITNESS AT THE CRASH SITE REPORTED HEARING THE AIRPLANE FLY OVER HIS HOUSE WITH THE ENGINE SPUTTERING, THEN JUST BEFORE THE SOUND OF THE IMPACT THEY HEARD THE ENGINE. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS SET TO THE RIGHT TANK. AN EXPERIENCED CFI WATCHED THE AIRCRAFT DIVE STEEPLY FROM ABOUT 400-500 FEET AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE AT HIGH SPEED. AN EYE WITNESS ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM THE CRASH SITE ALSO DESCRIBED THESTEEP DIVE ANGLE, AND SAID HER CAR CLOCK SHOWED 5:55 PM.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI02FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02FA033), Nov 16, 2001: Zenair CH2000 (N33ZA), Wentzville, MO, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The improper selection of the fuel selector which resulted in fuel starvation and subsequent engine failure. Factors were the unsuitable terrain for the forced landing encountered by the pilot and…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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