Champion 7FC accident near Alliance, OH
On August 12, 1998, a Champion 7FC (airplane) was involved in an accident near Alliance, OH. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 12, 1998
- Place
- Alliance, OH
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.910°N, 81.110°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10934
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 12, 1998, about 0957 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7FC, N8520E, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and impacted terrain while on approach to the Barber Airport (2D1), Alliance, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and private pilot rated passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that departed the Sunset Strip Airport (OH07), Marlboro, Ohio, about 0930. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was registered to and operated by a flying club based at OH07, which was located about 8 miles west-southwest of 2D1. According to a club representative, on the morning of the accident the turf runway at OH07 was being mowed and the two pilots departed the airport to practice touch and go landings elsewhere. A witness located on a bridge about 1,000 feet north of the accident site observed the airplane. He said the airplane performed three "normal" touch and go landings at 2D1. On the fourth landing attempt, the airplane extended its downwind leg, and looked "very low" on final approach. The airplane was about 25 feet above the tree line located on the west side of the Berlin Lake as it descended at about the same rate he observed on the previous landings. As the airplane approached the east side of the Berlin Lake bank, he began to run towards the accident site. He saw the airplane impact trees and suddenly pitch nose down. He did not see the airplane make any pitch changes prior to the impact. The witness further stated, he could not hear any engine noise from
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during the approach which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience and lack of experience in the make and model of the accident airplane.
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Browse: Ohio · 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.
