What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 7, 2024, at approximately 1300 central daylight time, a Champion 7EC, privacy data omitted, was flying level over eagle mountain lake. The aircraft began a decent towards the water. The aircraft impacted the water with the engine running and no control inputs to pull out of the 45-degree angle. Upon impact the right wing came off along with the door coming to rest 8-10 feet under water with only the top of the tail visible. The pilot was found trapped in his seat once the aircraft was pulled to dry land. There were no mechanical issues found. The aircraft has substantial damage from the impact with the water. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 7, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 1300 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A CHAMPION 7EC, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS FLYING LEVEL OVER EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A DECENT TOWARDS THE WATER. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE WATER WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND NO CONTROL INPUTS TO PULL OUT OF THE 45-DEGREE ANGLE. UPON IMPACT THE RIGHT WING CAME OFF ALONG WITH THE DOOR COMING TO REST 8-10 FEET UNDER WATER WITH ONLY THE TOP OF THE TAIL VISIBLE. THE PILOT WAS FOUND TRAPPED IN HIS SEAT ONCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS PULLED TO DRY LAND. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ISSUES FOUND. THE AIRCRAFT HAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE WATER. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.