NYC00LA213

The airplane was in a left traffic pattern for landing. During the turn from base leg to final, it stalled, and began a spin to the left. Prior to ground impact, the airplane's rotation was stopped; however, the nose came up, and the airplane remained stalled as it hit the ground. There was no evidence of a preexisting mechanical malfunction. The pilot had about 2,030 hours of total flight time, and 111 hours in the accident airplane. At the time of the accident, the airplane's center of gravity was aft of the rearward limit by 3.13 inches, and it's weight was 21.5 pounds over maximum gross weight.

On July 29, 2000, at 1622 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Zodiac CH 601, N601GS, was destroyed during an approach to Wayne County Airport (BJJ), Wooster, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight, between Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport (YNG), Youngstown, Ohio, and Wayne County. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a witness, who was also a certificated commercial pilot, the airplane first flew around the airport, then entered a left traffic pattern for landing on Runway 28. When the airplane was turning from base onto final, the witness saw it "stall and start a spin to the left.... The pilot got the rotation stopped, but the nose was high and it mushed out of sight over [a] hill."

The airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate on March 9, 2000. The last maintenance performed on it was the repair of a muffler on the day before the accident, and at that time, the airplane had 109.6 hours of service. The airplane also had an angle of attack advisory system installed.

Photographs provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that one propeller blade was shattered, and that all flight control surfaces were at the accident scene. The airplane came to rest on a magnetic heading of 180 degrees.

Computations made by an FAA inspector revealed that the center of gravity was aft of the rearward limit by 3.13 inches, and the airplane was 21.5 pounds over maximum gross weight at the time of the accident.

The pilot had approximately 2,030 hours of flight time, and 111 hours in the accident airplane. His latest second class medical certificate was issued on January 28, 2000.

Toxicological testing was performed on the pilot's remains by the FAA Toxicology and Research Laboratory, with negative results. An autopsy was performed by the Medical Examiner, County of Summit, Akron, Ohio.

On July 31, 2000, the wreckage was released to the pilot's son.