- Date
- June 4, 1997, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Gregory, MI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5253XChampion 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970604018479A
- Case key
- 10586
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
The pilot's improper planning/decision. The tailwind and location of trees were related factors.
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
After checking the windsocks at each end of the runway, the pilot selected runway 20 for departure. During the initial climb, the airplane began to descend, and it impacted trees. About five minutes after the accident and 22 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, a weather reporting station recorded the wind to be 030 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical difficulties with the airplane at the time of the accident. After the accident, inspections of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies.
Factual narrative
On June 4, 1997, at 1245 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N5253X, sustained substantial damage during impact with trees and the terrain following a descent from initial climb on takeoff. The accident occurred at a private airport located near Gregory, Michigan. The pilot received serious injuries, while the passenger received minor injuries. The local personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he elected to conduct the takeoff to the south (runway 20) after checking the windsocks at both ends of the runway. He said that the aircraft performance was normal; however, after takeoff the airplane began to descend and impacted trees.
The nearest recorded weather was 22 nautical miles to the southwest of the accident site. Five minutes after the accident that station was reporting the wind condition to be 030 degrees at 7 knots.
The airplane and engine were inspected subsequent to the accident and a copy of the report of that inspection in included as an addendum to this report. The inspection did not establish any preexisting anomalies with the airplane or engine.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5253X
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 693
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C-1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Safdar F. Nana
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 2, 1996 · 28 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- OWZ · Howell, MI
- Airport
- NONE · None, runway 20, 1,400 × 50 ft, grass/turf
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 20,900 total · 92 in this make and model · 16,000 as pilot in command · 160 in the last 90 days · 52 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- KJA, 22 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.