Champion 7ECA N6310N

Summary

On 29 April 2025 at about 22:34 local time, a Champion 7ECA registered N6310N was involved in an accident near Cottonwood, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 April 2025 at 22:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Cottonwood, California, United States

Nearest airport

Flying N Ranch (CA04)

Coordinates

40.3392, -122.3388

Aircraft

Champion 7ECA

Registration

N6310N

Category

Airplane

Year built

1967

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Red Bluff → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25FA145

2 people died.

The flight instructor’s delayed response to an improper landing approach and runway overshoot, which resulted in an impact with an airport perimeter fence and trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction departed on an instructional flight. A witness who spoke to the pilots before their departure stated that the flight instructor occupied the front seat, while the pilot in the rear seat was receiving instruction in preparation for his flight instructor practical test. First responders reported that, upon arriving at the accident site, they observed the airplane engulfed in flames and an individual later identified as the pilot receiving instruction, outside of the airplane. They immediately began extinguishing the fire and providing medical assistance. The pilot was alert and stated to first responders that he had self-extricated from the airplane and that the flight instructor remained inside. He further explained that the flight instructor had been flying the airplane at the time of the accident. During the landing approach, according to the pilot, while on approach to land the flight instructor overshot the runway, initiated a go-around, applied power, and subsequently lost control of the airplane. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted a 5-ft-tall fence post near the departure end of the 2,600-ft-long runway as well as a 40-ft tall tree along the runway’s extended centerline, before coming to rest at the base of a tree about 585 ft past the departure end of the runway. Examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures; however, thermal damage precluded a detailed examination of the engine. Although witnesses near the accident site did not observe the accident sequence, they reported no anomalies in the engine’s sound around the time of the accident. The airplane’s path past the departure end of the runway appeared to be consistent with the pilot’s statement that the accident occurred following a runway overshoot and subsequent go-around. It is likely that the decision to initiate the go-around was delayed, which resulted in collision with a fence post and trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.