# NTSB CHI90DEI01: Champion 7GCAA, N8326V, Ashland, OH, July 3, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 2, 1990, 20:40 local (Jul 3, 1990, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Ashland, OH
- Coordinates: 40.85942, -82.309204 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8594&lon=-82.3092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14458
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90DEI01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14458/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DEI01

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY PREFLIGHT THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. RESULTING IN A FUEL LEAK GOING UNDETECTED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - unreliable (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,strainer - leak (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE FUEL QUANTITY WAS VISUALLY CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE 30 GALLONS. FIFTEEN STOP AND GO LANDINGS WERE PERFORMED AFTER WHICH A BREAK WAS TAKEN. UPON RESUMING THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE INDICATED 2 NEEDLE WIDTHS BELOW FULL. DURING THE SECOND STOP AND GO LANDING AFTER THE BREAK, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A WHEAT FIELD 705 FT SHORT OF THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED NO FUEL IN EITHER WING FUEL TANK. EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE WAS NOTED AROUND THE FUEL STRAINER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, 2 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE ADDED TO THE FUEL TANKS AND THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 2 NEEDLE WIDTHS BELOW FULL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8326V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8326V-2019-08-05), registration cancelled 2019-08-05, S/N 102 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcaa) (registry code 21101N8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 102
- Airframe hours: 3463
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas F. Hawks
- Registered owner: Mark W. Moser
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 1989, 18 hours before
- Airport: 3G4, Ashland County, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 29,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 27,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MFD, 13 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900702023539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900702023539A), Jul 2, 1990: Bbavia 7GCAA, Ashland, OH, Substantial damage. Turning base for landing engine quit. Nosed over landing in wheat. Fuel tanks empty. Fuel check by inop gauge.

## Other investigations on N8326V (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 CHI70D0320](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70D0320), Aug 25, 1969: Champion 7ECA (N8326V), Millersburg, OH, 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.

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