# NTSB IAD02LA072: Desimone Zodiac CH-601-H, N422EZ, Wadsworth, OH, July 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2002, 20:15 local (Jul 13, 2002, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Wadsworth, OH - Coordinates: 41.028331, -81.798332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0283&lon=-81.7983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 55218 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD02LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55218/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55218 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD02LA072 ## Probable cause The pilot's overrotation after take off, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. A factor was the pilot's decision to take off with a tailwind. ## 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 - rotation - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The certificated private pilot/owner attempted a take off with quartering tailwind. He applied full power, and the airplane accelerated and lifted off as expected. After liftoff and acceleration in ground effect, the airplane would not climb. The pilot then pulled back more, got the nose of the airplane too high and entered a stall. The airplane sank, struck the tail, continued off the departure end of the runway, crossed a road, and came to rest between trees. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2002, at 2015 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Zodiac CH 601-H, N422EZ, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain during a takeoff at Weltzien Skypark (15G), Wadsworth, Ohio. The certificated private pilot/owner and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection, serviced the airplane with fuel, and taxied for takeoff from runway 21. The preflight run-up was "normal", and the airplane accelerated and lifted off as expected. However, after liftoff and acceleration in ground effect, the airplane would not climb. The airplane sank, struck the tail, continued off the departure end of the runway, crossed a road, and came to rest between trees. The pilot also stated that after the airplane started to sink, he pulled the yoke back and "got behind the power curve." During a telephone interview, a flight instructor at Weltzien Skypark stated that he was flying in the traffic pattern when the wind picked up from the north. He said the local policy was to use runway 21 when the wind was calm, and that runway 21 had been the active runway for most of the day. The flight instructor aborted a landing to runway 21 due to the tailwind. He reversed direction in the traffic pattern, announced the runway change over the UNICOM frequency, and configured the airplane for landing on runway 03 as the accident airplane taxied for departure from runway 21. When his airplane was on short final for landing on runway 03, the flight instructor advised the accident pilot to "hold short", because he was landing opposite the accident pilot's intended direction of takeoff. After landing, the flight instructor told the accident pilot that "the new active runway is 03," and the accident pilot thanked him for the advisory. It surprised the flight instructor when the accident pilot took off from runway 21. The flight instructor saw the other airplane pass by him about 4 feet off the ground, with a 70-degree nose-high attitude. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate was issued May 7, 2002. The pilot reported 384 hours of flight experience, 282 hours of which were in the accident airplane. The pilot built the accident airplane. He registered it in the experimental category, and was issued an FAA airworthiness certificate on September 22, 1995. When questioned about the performance and handling of the airplane, the pilot said that it seemed to be running without any problem. He mentioned that it usually gets off the ground and it climbs out in a normal manner. He added that this time, the wind had changed, and he went off the east side. The pilot didn't think the winds were that much of a factor but added that maybe what happened was his fault. The weather recorded at an airport 10 miles south of Wadsworth included winds from 330 at 6 knots. The weather recorded at an airport 15 miles east of Wadsworth included winds from 080 degrees at 6 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N422EZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N422EZ-2013-09-28), registration cancelled 2013-09-28, S/N 6-3171, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Desimone Zodiac CH-601-H - Registry model: [Desimone John M ZODIAC CH 601-HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/desimone-john-m-zodiac-ch-601-hds) (registry code 05601OI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3171 - Airframe hours: 282 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John M. Desimone - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2002, 19.8 hours before - Departed: 15G, Wadsworth, OH - Airport: 15G, Weltzien Skypark, runway 21, 2,360 × 37 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 30, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 384 total, 282 in this make and model, 288 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 330° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: BJJ ## 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 20020712016919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020712016919A), Jul 12, 2002: Amtr CH601HDS, Medina, OH, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 12, 2002, at 2015 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt zodiac ch 601-H airplane, N422EZ, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55218. 697 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (item 1, .PDF, 517 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%2F2-Master.PDF - Summary of Interview (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40180008&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Interview-Master.PDF - Written Statements (item 3, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461470&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statements-Master.PDF 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.