# NTSB FTW90FA059: Aeronca 7DC, N4542E, El Paso, TX, January 28, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: January 28, 1990, 14:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: El Paso, TX - Coordinates: 31.639303, -106.269386 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6393&lon=-106.2694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23007 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23007/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA059 ## Probable cause POWER LOSS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR ASSEMBLY AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT KNOWN DEFICIENCIES. FACTORS WERE CONTAMINATED FUEL, PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL SCREEN, FOULED SPARK PLUGS, THE ROUGH TERRAIN, AND THE LACK OF SHOULDER HARNESSES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,carburetor - failure,total (cause) - mixture - excessive - fluid,fuel - contamination (contributing factor) - fuel system,screen - blocked(partial) (contributing factor) - ignition system,spark plug - fouled (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - stall/mush - intentional, pilot in command - shoulder harness - unavailable, pilot passenger (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A GRAVEL PIT, INTENTIONALLY STALLING THE AIRPLANE TO OBTAIN THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LANDING SPEED. THE AIRPLANE HAD A STC FOR AND WAS BEING OPERATED ON AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. RESIDUAL FUEL AND DEBRIS WERE NOTED IN THE MAIN FUEL TANK. THE FILTER SCREEN WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 20% BLOCKED BY SAN AND DEBRIS. SOME WATER WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL. THE CARBURETOR NEEDLE VALVE WAS FOUND TO BE BINDING. IT HAD A FLAT SPOT ON ONE SIDE, ALLOWING FUEL TO FLOOD THE BOWL. THE #1 SPARK PLUG WAS INOPERATIVE. THE #3 PLUG WAS OIL SOAKED. ALL PLUGS AND THE EXHAUST PIPE HAD CARBON DEPOSITS. TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AN AIRPORT WORKER STARTED THE ENGINE AND IT RAN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE IT STOPPED. NO REASON WAS GIVEN FOR THE STOPPAGE, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS INVESTIGATED FURTHER. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH SHOULDER HARNESSES. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4542E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4542E), registered now, S/N 7DC-144 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 7DC - Registry model: [Champion 7DC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7dc) (registry code 21101NB) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7DC-144 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-8 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Barrett, Philip C., doing business as West Texas Air Museum - Departed: TX04, EL PASO, TX - Destination: TX04 - Airport: TX04, West Texas ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,254 total, 30 in this make and model, 2,177 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 12 knots - Visibility: 70 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F - Observed at: ELP, 9 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 19900128001159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900128001159A), Jan 28, 1990: Bbavia 7DC, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Engine quit on takeoff. Crash landed in gravel pit. Carburetor needle valve stuck,flooded engine. Ingniters fowled. ## Other investigations on N4542E (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC26LA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA095), Sep 1, 2026: Champion 7DC (N4542E), Copper Center, AK, substantial damage, investigation ongoing 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.