- Date
- March 6, 2009, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Thomas, OK
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N7681EChampion 7FC
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Oklahoma City FSDO
- FAA report
- 20090306002309A
- Case key
- 73444
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot was on initial climb after departing from a farm airstrip when, at approximately 75 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot made a partial-power landing in a newly planted wheat field. The airplane flipped over on its back causing substantial damage to the empennage, both wings, rudder, and vertical fin. Both occupants reported that they were not injured. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector that responded to the scene reported that there was adequate fuel on-board and no obvious reason for the loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
The private pilot was on initial climb after departing from a farm airstrip when, at approximately 75 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot made a partial power landing in a newly planted wheat field. The airplane flipped over on its back causing substantial damage to the empennage, both wings, rudder, and vertical fin. Both occupants reported they were not injured. The FAA inspector that responded to the scene reported that there was adequate fuel on-board and no obvious reason for the loss of engine power.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7681E
- Reported as
- Champion 7FC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7FC-278
- Airframe hours
- 3,213
- Engine
- Continental C90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 5, 2005 · 32 hours before
- Departed
- 1O4 · Thomas, OK
- Destination
- 1O4 · Thomas, OK
- Airport
- 1O4 · Thomas Municipal Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 11, 2009
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 588 total · 13 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Other flight crew
- Age
- 72
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 456 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KJWG, 15 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7681E · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.