# NTSB CHI04CA160: Champion 7FC, N7690E, Carmi, IL, June 20, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 20, 2004, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Carmi, IL - Coordinates: 38.089443, -88.123054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0894&lon=-88.1231&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59641 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59641/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA160 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, his decision to continue the takeoff when the aircraft had left the runway surface, and his selection of unsuitable terrain for the continued takeoff. An additional cause was the pilot's failure to maintain clearance to the terrain during the initial climb. Contributing factors were the wheat field "stubble" (high vegetation) and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 36. The pilot reported completing three touch and goes "in a normal manner." He stated that on the fourth landing, after the tail wheel had touched down, he applied full engine power for takeoff. The airplane "suddenly swerved to the right and went into the grass east of the runway." The pilot elected to takeoff on a northeasterly heading from the grass area and the taxiway. During the attempted takeoff, the aircraft encountered a harvested wheat field adjacent to the airport. The aircraft became airborne in a right wing low attitude, causing the aircraft to turn toward the south. The pilot reported that the engine power "seemed to fade" and he landed on a southerly heading in a five-foot deep ditch adjacent to the wheat field. The right wing impacted the ground, twisting the fuselage and collapsing the landing gear. The pilot stated that he may have applied the right heel brake during the landing roll resulting in a loss of directional control. He also noted that the wheat field stubble was "high and made the attempted take off very difficult." He also noted that carburetor icing may have been responsible for the "apparent lack of full power response." The temperature and dew point recorded by the CUL Automated Weather Observing System at 1645 were 25 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively. Carburetor icing data obtained from Transport Canada indicates a possibility of carburetor icing at descent power under those conditions. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 2004, about 1700 central daylight time, a Champion 7FC, N7690E, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain shortly after takeoff from runway 36 (4,001 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at the Carmi Municipal Airport (CUL), Carmi, Illinois. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The flight departed Skylane Airport (3EV), Evansville, Indiana, about 1630. The pilot reported in his written statement that he had completed three touch and goes "in a normal manner." He stated that on the fourth touch-and-go landing, after the tail wheel had touched down, he applied full engine power for takeoff. The airplane "suddenly swerved to the right and went into the grass east of the runway." The pilot reported that he attempted to takeoff on a northeasterly heading from the grass area and the taxiway. The aircraft subsequently encountered a recently harvested wheat field east of the airport with "rather high" stubble. The pilot noted that the aircraft became airborne in a right wing low attitude, causing the aircraft to turn toward the south. He reported that the engine power "seemed to fade" and he landed on a southerly heading in a five-foot deep ditch at the edge of the wheat field. The right wing impacted the ground, twisting the fuselage and collapsing the landing gear. The pilot stated that he may have applied the right heel brake during the landing roll resulting in a loss of directional control. He also noted that the wheat field stubble was "high and made the attempted take off very difficult." He also noted that carburetor icing may have been responsible for the "apparent lack of full power response." The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions related to the airframe or engine. The temperature and dew point recorded by the CUL Automated Weather Observing System at 1645 were 25 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively. Carburetor icing data obtained from Transport Canada indicates a possibility of carburetor icing at descent power under those conditions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7690E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7690E-2005-03-23), registration cancelled 2005-03-23, S/N 7FC-285, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7FC - Registry model: [Champion 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (registry code 21101NX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-285 - Airframe hours: 6517 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 2004, 2.5 hours before - Departed: 3EV, Evansville, IN - Destination: CUL, Carmi, IL - Airport: CUL, Carmi Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 12, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 1,121 total, 90 in this make and model, 1,121 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: CUL ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040620016919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040620016919A), Jun 20, 2004: Bbavia 7FC, Carmi, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot of N7690E was executing his fourth touch and go landing on runway 36 at the Carmi, Illinois airport when he failed to maintain positive control… ## Other investigations on N7690E (2) 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 CHI81FEC42](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEC42), Aug 30, 1981: Bellanca 7FC (N7690E), Ann Arbor, MI, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI66F0667](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0667), Mar 25, 1966: Champion 7FC (N7690E), Champaign, IL, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.