Champion 7ECA accident near Castlewood, VA
On March 15, 1998, a Champion 7ECA (airplane) was involved in an accident near Castlewood, VA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 15, 1998
- Place
- Castlewood, VA
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.870°N, 82.279°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X09693
NTSB summary
On March 15, 1998, about 1518 eastern standard time, a Champion 7ECA, N7507F, was substantially damaged as it collided with terrain after an aborted landing on a private airstrip near Castlewood, Virginia. The certificated private pilot/co-owner died April 15, 1998, from his injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, which originated from the Virginia Highlands Airport, Abingdon, Virginia. The owner of the private grass airstrip, located at 1,700 feet above mean sea level, described the runway as, " 2,400 feet long, oriented east/west, with a 3 foot high electric cattle fence at either end." Friends of the pilot and the co-owner of the airplane reported that the pilot flew there frequently and was familiar with the private airstrip. Witnesses recounted a strong glare from the sun at the time the airplane was landing. They stated that the airplane touched down past midfield, bounced several times, and was approaching the end of the strip when they heard the sound of the engine accelerating. The witnesses reported that "the airplane was only a few feet above the ground in a nose high attitude as it crossed over the electric cattle fence." The airplane traversed a 40 foot deep ravine, but impacted the top of an embankment which was level with the grass runway. The airplane was found near the bottom of the embankment in an upright position. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage. The examination revealed no mechanical malfunction with the airframe or e
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point and the delayed execution of the go around. A contributing factor was the fence.
More accidents in VA
- Boeing 757-200, Sep 11, 2001
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Browse: Virginia · 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.
