19971106032619A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bbavia 7ECA · Hamilton, GA · November 6, 1997

Date: November 6, 1997 · 18:45 local
Place: Hamilton, GA
Phase of flight: Scud Running
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9556S
NTSB investigation: NTSBATL98FA007
Reported as: Bbavia 7ECA
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N9556SRegistration cancelled Jun 10, 1998 · Champion 7ECAS/N 291 Airframe modelChampion 7ECA

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

VFR pilot attempted to fly under IFR conditions and collided with trees. (-23) at approximately 1845 EST, on 11/06/97, Mr. William b. chapman, pilotting champion N9556S near Hamilton, Georgia, collided with trees near the top of a ridge. Mr. Chapman had no instrument rating and instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area. The aircraft was destroyed and Mr. Chapman, the only occupant was fatally injured. No one injured on ground and there was no post crash fire.

As the FAA filed it

VFR PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY UNDER IFR CONDITIONS AND COLLIDED WITH TREES. (-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 1845 EST, ON 11/06/97, MR. WILLIAM B. CHAPMAN, PILOTTING CHAMPION N9556S NEAR HAMILTON, GEORGIA, COLLIDED WITH TREES NEAR THE TOP OF A RIDGE. MR. CHAPMAN HAD NO INSTRUMENT RATING AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED IN THE AREA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND MR. CHAPMAN, THE ONLY OCCUPANT WAS FATALLY INJURED. NO ONE INJURED ON GROUND AND THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ATL98FA007Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportHamilton, GAVFR flight by the pilot into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his failure to maintain sufficient altitude or clearance from mountainous terrain. Related factors were: darkness, adverse weather conditions, and the pilot's self induced pressure…Nov 6, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N9556S · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19871215080959IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Goodwins, MEEngine lost power then stopped. Forced landing in a cultivated field. Suspect carburetor icing. Main gear torn off.Dec 15, 1987 · Minor damage