- Date
- August 31, 1987, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Sheridan, IN
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N6343NChampion 7KCAB
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 11, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870831048889A
- Case key
- 13612
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
On initial climbout at approximately 400' AGL the aircraft experienced a total power failure. The pilot attempted to maneuver the aircraft to return to the airport, however, the aircraft was forced to land in a farm field 1/4 mile short of the airport. The private pilot receiving instruction stated that the aircraft hit the ground in a nose-low, left bank attitude. The left main gear collapsed during the landing. Examination and run-up of the engine by FAA investigators failed 'to provide conclusive evidence to show indication of an engine malfunction.'
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6343N
- Reported as
- Champion 7KCAB
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 35
- Airframe hours
- 1,222
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-320-E2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- David L. Railer Jeff G. Apple
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 1, 1987 · 12 hours before
- Departed
- 5I4 · Sheridan, IN
- Airport
- 5I4 · Sheridan, runway 23, 3,800 × 50 ft, asphalt
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 32
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 2,194 total · 14 in this make and model · 2,098 as pilot in command · 193 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.