# NTSB CHI99LA331: Champion 7ECA, N9549S, Forest Lake, MN, September 6, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 6, 1999, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Forest Lake, MN - Coordinates: 45.270751, -92.979354 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2708&lon=-92.9794&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47250 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47250/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA331 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudging the proper glidepath, and his not maintaining airspeed. Factors were the pilot's lack of recent experience, the airplane's inadvertent stall, and the fence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - proper glidepath - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - fence (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot departed in the airplane with the intention of practicing short field takeoffs and landings. He said that he allowed the airplane to get too low and too slow to land on the runway. The airplane touched down short of the runway and the right wing impacted a fence. He wrote in his statement concerning his recommendation to prevent this accident, 'Pilot take some dual time to assure proficiency after a long layoff period when no flying was done.' ## Factual narrative On September 6, 1999, at 1805 central daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N9549S, owned and operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an undershoot to land on runway 13 (2,650' x 150' dry/turf), at Forest Lake Airport, near Forest Lake, Minnesota. The pilot reported minor injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The local flight departed about 1730. The pilot stated in his written statement that he departed with the intention of practicing short field takeoffs and landings. He said that he allowed the airplane to get too low and too slow to land on the runway, and the airplane stalled. The airplane touched down short of the runway and the right wing impacted a fence. He wrote in his statement concerning his recommendation to prevent this accident, "Pilot take some dual time to assure proficiency after a long layoff period when no flying was done." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9549S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9549S), registered now, S/N 7ECA363, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 363 - Airframe hours: 938 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roger C. Beach - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 4, 1998, 2 hours before - Departed: 25D - Airport: 25D, Forest Lake, runway 13, 2,650 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 143 total, 141 in this make and model, 58 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 31° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19990906025639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990906025639A), Sep 6, 1999: Bbavia 7ECA, Forest Lake, MN, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 6, 1999, at 1805 central daylight time, a champion 7ECA, N9549S, owned and operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during… 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.