# Accident 20250731011409A: Champion 7FC, Moriarty, NM, July 31, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 2025, 08:30 local time
- Place: Moriarty, NM
- Airport: Moriarty Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.9820° N, 106.0081° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9820&lon=-106.0081&mi=10
- Aircraft: N50778, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50778) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Champion 7FC (registry code 21101NX, https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90-12F (registry code 17183, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-12f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7FC
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C90-12F
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,380 total, 149 in this make and model, 72 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA242) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250731011409A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 31, 2025, AT AROUND 0830 MST, A CHAMPION 7FC EXECUTED A LANDING AT MORIARTY MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WHILE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT PERFORMING TOUCH AND GO MANUVERS.  THE LANDING MANUVER RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE AIRPORT AT THAT TIME.

WHILE PERFORMING A LANDING MANEUVER, THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED, MISJUDGED THE AIRCRAFT SPEED AND CONTROL INPUT AND AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING ON THE RIGHT-HAND MAIN LANDING GEAR.

THE PILOT TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE TAXIWAY, EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND CONDUCTED A VISUAL INSPECTION.

HE IMMIDATELY OBSERVED THE CABIN DOOR SPRUNG OPEN. A POST FLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED A BROKEN WINDSHIELD, THE RIGHT-HAND MAIN LANDING GEAR FAIRING WAS BULGING, THE CABIN DOOR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE AREA ADJECENT TO THE RIGHT WING AND FUSALAGE APPEARED BUCKLED, THE FABRIC BELOW THE MAIN CABIN ENTRY APPEARED LOOSE AND SAGGING.  THE TUBULAR FRAME LOCATED INSIDE THE FLIGHT DECK AND SURROUNDING THE GLARE SHIELD E HAD A CONCAVE BEND ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE.

THE DAMAGE WAS VERIFIED AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY RESPONDING AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTORS.  THE PILOT WAS WEARING CORRECTIVE LENSES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AS REQUIRED ON HIS PILOT CERTIFICATE.

## 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 WPR25LA242](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA242), Jul 31, 2025: Champion 7FC (N50778), Moriarty, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

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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