Campbell Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Grayslake, Illinois 60030
Saturday, June 12, 1993 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/12/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City GRAYSLAKE
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60030
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport CAMPBELL AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C81
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 787
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1057 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 52
Weather Observation Facility ID UGN
Elevation of weather observation facility 727
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 20000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1277
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 12 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1746
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:22PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N701CM
NTSB Number CHI93LA206
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion Ground
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CLAUDE E. MERRIN
Aircraft Model ZENAIR STOL CH-701
Aircraft Series Identifier ZENAIR STO
Aircraft Serial Number 7-1275
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jun 12 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CLAUDE E. MERRIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address 290 OAKMONT DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City DEERFIELD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60015
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CLAUDE E. MERRIN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 290 OAKMONT DRIVE
Operator City DEERFIELD
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60015
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code C81
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code C81
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 3270
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --