Champion 7ECA N7507F

Summary

On 15 March 1998 at about 20:18 local time, a Champion 7ECA registered N7507F was involved in an accident near Castlewood, Virginia, 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.

Date

15 March 1998 at 20:18

Classification

Accident

Location

Castlewood, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

36.8697, -82.2792

Aircraft

Champion 7ECA

Registration

N7507F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Abingdon → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD98LA038

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point and the delayed execution of the go around. A contributing factor was the fence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing towards the west on the 2,400 foot grass runway. A 3 foot high electric cattle fence bounded the east and west ends of the landing strip. Witnesses reported 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 also 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 impacted the top of an embankment after crossing a 40 foot deep ravine. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical malfunction with the airframe or engine. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage/crash site and reported that the top strand of wire on the electric cattle fence, which was approximately 30 inches above the ground, was broken.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.