Champion 7GCBC N9686S accident, La Crosse, WI, May 21, 1988 · NTSB CHI88LA116

Date: May 21, 1988, 18:07 local (23:07 UTC)
Place: La Crosse, WI
Injuries: 2 minor
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Initial climb
Aircraft: N9686SChampion 7GCBC
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report April 14, 1989
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19880521027369A
Case key: 14078

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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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.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb

Powerplant - disabledCause

Fluid,fuel - starvationCause

Forced landingDescent - emergency

Loss of control - in flightDescent - emergency

Maneuver - improperPilot in command(cfi)Cause

Stall/spin - inadvertentPilot in command(cfi)Cause

Terrain condition - tree(s)Factor

Terrain condition - wire,transmissionFactor

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Aircraft

Registration: N9686S
Reported as: Champion 7GCBC
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 41
Airframe hours: 10,053
Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Instructional · Part 91
Operator: Randall L. Niederkorn
Registered owner: John J. Salsman
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
Last inspection: Annual · July 25, 1987 · 887 hours before
Departed: 36WI · La Crosse, WI
Airport: 36WI · Holland Airpark, runway 18, 3,100 × 50 ft, dirt

N9686SRegistered now · Champion 7GCBCS/N 41 · Built 1966 Airframe modelChampion 7GCBC Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

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: 25
Certificates: Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings: Airplane
Medical: Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Rear
Flight hours: 930 total · 35 in this make and model · 803 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 130° at 8 knots
Visibility: 10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 52 °F
Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Observed at: LSE, 10 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.

Accident 19880521027369ABbavia 7GCB · La Crosse, WIEngine quit on climb to cruise. Crash landed off airport. Lean mixture and auto fuel may have caused vapor lock.May 21, 1988 · N9686S · Substantial damage