Aviation Crash Map

Zorn EAA SPORT BI-PLANE UNREG

29 May 2004 · Mazon, Illinois, United States · Fatal

Summary

On 29 May 2004 at about 12:30 local time, a Zorn EAA SPORT BI-PLANE registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Mazon, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

The record

Date
at 12:30
Classification
Accident
Location
Mazon, Illinois, United States
Coordinates
41.4256, -88.4186
Aircraft
Zorn EAA SPORT BI-PLANE
Registration
UNREG
Category
Airplane
Engines
1
Operator
Not recorded
Operating rule
Part 91: General Aviation
Purpose of flight
Personal
Phase of flight
Not recorded
Route
Mazon → Mazon
Aircraft damage
Substantial
Weather
VMC
Light
Day
NTSB number
CHI04LA131

People

1 person died.

On board Died Serious Minor Uninjured
1 1 0 0 0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering which resulted in a stall. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's unfamiliarity with the handling characteristics of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane impacted the terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. A witness reported, "I saw the plane come over the trees and it waivered and nose dived into the ground." Another witness reported the airplane appeared to be "performing maneuvers in the air above the crash site." According to the pilot's wife, the pilot had been working on the airplane and the accident occurred on the first flight since he purchased it. She stated he was "going to taxi the plane and complete short take-offs and landings to test the plane and engine." The airplane came to rest in a near vertical nose down attitude in an open field. The fuselage and empennage were folded inverted over the cockpit. Both lower wings were uniformly crushed rearward. Post accident examination of the engine and airframe failed to disclose any failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.

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