# NTSB CHI93LA206: Claude E. Merrin Zenair Stol CH-701, N701CM, Grayslake, IL, June 12, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 1993, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Grayslake, IL - Coordinates: 42.340984, -88.029479 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3410&lon=-88.0295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9219/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA206 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN AIRCRAFT TYPE WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - stall/spin - uncontrolled, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis JUST AFTER INITIAL TAKE-OFF, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN 'UNCONTROLLABLE TURN TO THE LEFT.' THE PILOT REPORTED THE TURN 'BACAME STEEPER AND SOON WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING THE PLANE IN AN INVERTED POSITION.' THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND WAS DESTROYED BY AN ON-GROUND EXPLOSION AND FIRE. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH AIRFRAME, ENGINE OR ACCESSORIES. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 1993, about 1100 central daylight time, a homebuilt Zenair STOL CH-701, N701CM, was destroyed when it collided with the ground in Grayslake, Illinois. The student pilot was departing Campbell Airport, Grayslake, Illinois, in visual meteorological conditions with no flight plan filed for the personal flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was seriously injured. Just after initial take-off, the pilot experienced an "uncontrollable turn to the left." The pilot reported the turn "became steeper and soon was in the process of putting the plane in an inverted position." The aircraft impacted the ground, and was destroyed by an on-ground explosion and fire. A witness reportedly observed the aircraft taking off from Runway 09. He said the aircraft became airborne within 100 to 150 feet, then almost immediately after taking off, the aircraft's left wing "drooped" and the aircraft turned north. It then drooped again and turned northwest. The witness stated it then appeared that the aircraft would collide with another aircraft on the ground. Then, the nose came up slightly and the left wind came down, impacting the ground. The pilot submitted the left and right control horns and rods to be examined. The left control horn plate was fractured, and the left control rod was bent. The control horn plate fracture has the granular appearance of an instantaneous failure. The compression bend in the left control rod, as well as the instantaneous type failure are indicative of impact damage. The right plate and rod were not damaged. The aircraft was new, with approximately 2 hours total flight time, and the owner/pilot had only 1.5 hours in type, at the time of the accident. Post accident examination revealed no mechanical malfunction with the airframe, engine or accessories. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N701CM-1993-11-19), registration cancelled 1993-11-19, S/N 71275 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CLAUDE E. MERRIN ZENAIR STOL CH-701 (ZENAIR STO) - Registry model: [Merrin Claude E ZENAIR STOL CH701](https://openairdocs.org/model/merrin-claude-e-zenair-stol-ch701) (registry code 05649CN) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-1275 - Airframe hours: 2 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Claude E. Merrin - Registered owner: Claude E. Merrin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, June 12, 1993, 2 hours before - Departed: C81 - Destination: C81 - Airport: C81, Campbell Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 338 total, 2 in this make and model, 338 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UGN, 11 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930612018039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930612018039A), Jun 12, 1993: Grayslake, IL, Destroyed. Reported uncontrollable left turn on climbout. Crashed left wing low. No anomalies in controls. Two hours in type. 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. --- 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.