Champion AERONCA 7GCB accident near Fairhope, AL
On July 15, 1996, a Champion AERONCA 7GCB (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fairhope, AL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 15, 1996
- Place
- Fairhope, AL
- Aircraft
- Champion AERONCA 7GCB · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.509°N, 87.880°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06305
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 15, 1996, about 1815 central daylight time, a Champion Aeronca 7GCB, N9908Y, registered to a private individual, crashed into Weeks Bay, Fairhope, Alabama, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was fatally injured. The sole passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated from Weeks Bay, about 2 minutes before the accident. The passenger stated they had stopped at a marina and the pilot had added fuel, topping off the tanks. This he believes based on the amount of fuel taken. They pushed away from the dock and had a problem with the engine starter. The pilot had a person at the dock turn the engine through using the propeller. The pilot then engaged the starter and the engine started. They taxied east out of the marina and then took off across Weeks Bay to the southwest. After lifting off the water and climbed up a little, the pilot asked if he was "ready to go up", and he replied yes. The pilot pushed the nose of the aircraft down and the aircraft descended, picking up speed. The pilot then pulled up in a "pretty steep" climb and he was pushed down in his seat. He heard the pilot say something and noticed the nose of the aircraft was now pointing straight down and he could see the grassy marsh in front of them. He does not remember anything after this until waking up in the hospital about two weeks later. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying low over Weeks Bay. The aircraft ma
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while manuevering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled impact with the water. The pilot's ostentatious display and the lack of altitude to recover from a stall were related factors.
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Browse: Alabama · Champion aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
