# NTSB FTW03LA200: Champion 7AC, N84426, San Antonio, TX, July 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 2003, 10:40 local (15:40 UTC) - Place: San Antonio, TX - Coordinates: 29.452222, -98.781112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4522&lon=-98.7811&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: San Antonio, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 57739 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57739/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA200 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain minimum required airspeed while maneuvering, resulting in an inadvertent stall of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis While flying over a wild animal orphanage and observing the animals, the pilot stated that he started losing altitude after completing a turn. The pilot added that he "straightened it out, but he still couldn’t maintain altitude." The airplane came to rest nose down in a wooded area inside the animal sanctuary. The IIC calculated the density altitude to be approximately 3,288 feet at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2003, about 1040 central daylight time, a Champion 7AC single-engine airplane, N84426, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground following a loss of control while maneuvering near San Antonio, Texas. The 761-hour private pilot received serious injuries and his passenger was not injured. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight, which originated from San Geronimo Airpark (8T8), near San Antonio, Texas at 1000. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he was flying over a wild animal orphanage at about 1,500 feet observing the animals when he started losing altitude after completing a turn. The pilot added that he "straightened it out, but he still couldn't maintain altitude." The airplane came to rest nose down in a heavily wooded area inside the animal sanctuary. According to the FAA inspector that interviewed the pilot after the accident, the pilot's wife stated that he previously told her that he thought that he stalled the airplane. With a temperature at 33 degrees Celsius, field elevation approximately 1,000 feet, and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury, the investigator-in-charge (IIC) calculated the density altitude to be 3,288 feet at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the wings and wing struts. The nose section of the airplane, the propeller, landing gear, and fuel tank were also damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N84426](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N84426), registered now, S/N 7AC3123, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7AC - Registry model: [Champion 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ac) (registry code 21101MA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC3123 - Airframe hours: 2945 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Louis Viggiano Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2003, 36.6 hours before - Departed: 8T8, San Antonio, TX - Destination: 8T8, San Antonio, TX - Airport: 8T8, San Geronimo Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 26, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 761 total, 761 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: SAT, 15 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 20030701020689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030701020689A), Jul 1, 2003: Bbavia 7AC, San Antonio, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) Inspectors statement: accident #FTW03LA200; date of occurrence: July 1, 2003; date of onsite investigation: July 1, 2003. Aircraft data: make/model… 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.