What happened
On April 30, 2024, a Zodiac CH-601 HDS aircraft, registration N6271F, was involved in an accident near Bristol, Indiana. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use. The crew, consisting of a private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger, sustained 2 fatal injuries.
According to ADS-B data, the aircraft departed Elkhart Municipal Airport (EKM) at 11:52 and arrived at Branch County Memorial Airport (OEB) at 12:25. The return leg of the flight departed OEB at 13:39, cruising at approximately 4,500 feet MSL with a true airspeed of about 80 knots. At 14:15:44, the aircraft began a descent toward EKM. During the following two minutes, the airspeed increased to 110 knots while the descent rate averaged 600 feet per minute.
At 14:17:44, the aircraft entered a steep descent. During this phase, the airspeed increased to 120 knots and the descent rate accelerated to more than 7,000 feet per minute. The final ADS-B data point was recorded at 14:18:05 at an altitude of 1,836 feet MSL, located approximately 400 feet east of the accident site.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft fly from east to west before entering a nosedive. One witness noted the engine sound was inconsistent, appearing to "cut in and out," while another observed the aircraft descending straight down toward the ground. The impact was described as a loud boom or explosion. No smoke or fire was observed at the site, though a strong smell of fuel was present.
The investigation
The aircraft impacted trees and terrain in a near-vertical attitude and nosed over. The investigation of the wreckage revealed the following:
- The left wing showed crushing on the leading edge and the outboard half was bent aft.
- The right wing sustained impact damage and hydraulic deformation near the fuel tank.
- The engine remained partially attached to the firewall but was crushed into the cockpit; the engine case and cylinders were intact with no signs of catastrophic failure.
- The wooden propeller blades were found shattered and dispersed around the area.
- Control cables for the elevator and rudder were found to have been cut by first responders during extraction efforts, though the aileron cables remained continuous.
The aircraft has been retained for further examination.