# Accident 20250429005859A: Champion 7ECA, Cottonwood, CA, April 29, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 29, 2025, 13:33 local time
- Place: Cottonwood, CA
- Airport: Flying N Ranch
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.3392° N, 122.3388° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3392&lon=-122.3388&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6310N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6310N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Champion 7ECA (registry code 21101NN, https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 492 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA145) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250429005859A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON APRIL 29, 2025, ABOUT 1534 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A CHAMPION, 7ECA, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR COTTONWOOD, CALIFORNIA AND A POST CRASH FIRE OCCURRED.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION WERE FATALLY INJURED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT.  THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTIONS WERE BEING PERFORMED ON A PRIVITE GRASS AIRSTRIP.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR25FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25FA145), Apr 29, 2025: Champion 7ECA (N6310N), Cottonwood, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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