# Accident 20241208019929A: Brenner Michael P ZENITH ZODIAC 601HDS, Columbia, IL, December 8, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 8, 2024, 12:10 local time
- Place: Columbia, IL
- Airport: Sackman Fld Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.4607° N, 90.2344° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4607&lon=-90.2344&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9853M, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9853M) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Brenner Michael P ZENITH ZODIAC 601HDS (registry code 05622RJ, https://openairdocs.org/model/brenner-michael-p-zenith-zodiac-601hds) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 2200 (registry code 34800, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRENNER MICHAEL P ZENITH ZODIAC 601HDS
- Reported engine: AEROMOMENT AM15 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241208019929A

## Narrative

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

A ZENITH ZODIAC CH601 AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO RETURN TO AIRPORT IL91. THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCE AN APPARENT OIL LEAK AND THE PILOT STATED HE SMELLED OIL AND THE COCKPIT STARTED TO FILL WITH SMOKE. DURING THE APPROACH, THE PILOT OPENED THE COCKPIT CANOPY TO ATTEMPT TO REGAIN VISIBILITY WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN IN A FIELD. THERE WAS A POST IMPACT FIRE AND IT DESTROYED THE AIRPLANE. A NEARBY SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT IMPACT IN A NOSE HIGH UPRIGHT CONFIGURATION, THEN FLIPPED OVER AND BECAME INVERTED. THE SMOKE WAS IMMEDIATELY VISIBLE.

THE PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE AIRCRAFT HOURS FOR BLOCK 13E.

## 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 CEN25FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA056), Dec 8, 2024: Zenith Zodiac CH601 (N9853M), Columbia, IL, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to secure the engine oil filter following maintenance, which resulted in oil starvation, a total loss of engine power, and impact with terrain.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.