- Date
- August 21, 1983, 14:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- La Jolla, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N100ESChampion 7GCAA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19830821070799A
- Case key
- 23497
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Prior to departure, the acft was observed being run up with the eng sputtering & backfiring quite badly. The acft returned to the hanger & 3 lower plugs were changed. The flt was then resumed. The acft was next observed off shore, with the eng sputtering & missing, & the banner having been released. The acft then pitched up, stalled & struck the water. Eng examination revealed numerous mechanical discrepancies. The #4 exhaust valve failed in fatigue. The right exhaust flame tube was deteriorated & separated with parts missing which were larger than the opening in the exhaust manifold. 4/5 of the #2 piston cap skirt was missing. The #2 scraper ring on the #2 piston was broken in half. The #4 exhaust cam lobe was worn to about 1/2 its normal height. The #4 exhaust cam follower face was concaved & pitted. The oil pump housing & gears showed scratch marks suggestive of metal contanination.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N100ES
- Reported as
- Champion 7GCAA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 229-70
- Airframe hours
- 3,421
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Duke L. Prichard
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 1982 · 166 hours before
- Departed
- SEE · El Cajon, CA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,878 total · 20 in this make and model · 45 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 14 knots
- Visibility
- 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRO, 14 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.