# NTSB DEN84FA031: Champion 7GC, N7697E, Douglas, WY, November 29, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 29, 1983, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Douglas, WY
- Coordinates: 42.750232, -105.389533 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7502&lon=-105.3895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16184
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FA031
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16184/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FA031

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - visual/aural perception, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT TOOK OFF ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLT TO SPOT CATTLE IN A MOUNTAINOUS AREA. WHEN HE FAILED TO RETURN, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE PLANE WAS FOUND IN A VALLEY BETWEEN 2 MOUNTAIN RANGES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD CRASHED WHILE IN A STEEP NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. THERE WAS NO LONGITUDINAL GROUND SCAR, THE ENG WAS EMBEDDED IN A 30 INCH CRATER & CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED FROM ALL CONTROL SURFACES TO THE COCKPIT AREA. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS EVIDENT. THE 0750 MST WX AT DOUGLAS, WY (ELEVATION 4876 FT) WAS IN PART: 2000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 20 MI. THE ELEVATION OF THE CRASH SITE WAS ABOUT 7500 FT. THE ARPT MANAGER NOTED 'A CURTAIN OF SNOW SHOWERS OR BLOWING SNOW' TOWARDS THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THE THE PLANE CRASHED. ALSO, HE STATED THE MOUNTAIN TOPS WERE OBSCURED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7697E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7697E-1986-08-26), registration cancelled 1986-08-26, S/N 7GC-37 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GC
- Registry model: [Champion AERONCA 7GC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-aeronca-7gc) (registry code 2110164) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2B 140 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91
- Operator: Arthur C Horr
- Departed: DGW, DOUGLAS, WY

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 470 total, 395 in this make and model, 66 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CPR

## 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 19831129059179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831129059179A), Nov 29, 1983: Bbavia 7GC, Douglas, WY, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed during cattle spotting flight. Weather may have been a factor as snowshowers were occurring.

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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