# NTSB ERA26LA008: Champion 7ECA, N63BC, East Rockingham, NC, October 7, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 7, 2025, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: East Rockingham, NC - Coordinates: 34.890375, -79.758469 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8904&lon=-79.7585&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201815/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201815 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during initial climb, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was attempting a normal landing with a left crosswind. About 200 ft into the landing roll, the right wing began to lift, and he overcorrected with left rudder input in an attempt to level the airplane. Fearing a ground loop, the pilot subsequently rejected the landing. During the initial climb, as the pilot attempted to clear trees at the end of the runway, the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall, resulting in impact with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63BC), registered now, S/N 637, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 637 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 3321.75 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2025, 16.8 hours before - Departed: MEB, Maxton, NC - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: RCZ, Richmond County, runway 22, 3,009 × 490 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 674.4 total, 17 in this make and model, 627 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 3021.00 inHg - Observed at: RCZ - METAR: METAR KRCZ 071530Z AUTO 16006KT 10SM SCT026 26/19 A3021 ## 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 20251007015039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251007015039A), Oct 7, 2025: Champion 7ECA, Rockinghham, NC, Substantial damage. On 10/7/2025, a 1968 Champion 7ECA aircraft with 2 occupants flew directly from kmeb to krcz to practice grass strip landings. First landing attempt resulted… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201815. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19430833&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19430268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19430843&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=METAR-Rel.pdf 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.