# NTSB LAX83FVG10: Champion 7ECA, N9548S, Georgetown, CA, March 31, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1983, 22:40 local (Mar 31, 1983, 06:40 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, CA
- Location: 38.9114° N, 120.8346° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Georgetown, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9114&lon=-120.8346&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): 23568
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX83FVG10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23568/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83FVG10

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A MOUNTAINSIDE AT THE 3500 FT LEVEL IN A 45 DEGREE NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AFTER COLLIDING WITH A 30 FT TREE DURING IMC WEATHER ON A DARK NIGHT. THERE IS NO RECORD THAT THE PLT RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING. THE PILOT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED AND NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. WITNESSES IN THE ACCIDENT AREA SAID THE NIGHT WAS STORMY WITH RAIN. THERE WERE NO RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE FLT BUT THE ACFT RADIO WAS TUNED TO THE EMERGENCY FREQUENCY OF 121.5 MHZ. THE INTEGRITY AND CONTINUITY OF ALL CONTROLS WAS VERIFIED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF AN IN-FLT STRUCTURAL OR POWER FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9548S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9548S-2013-03-20), registration cancelled 2013-03-20, S/N 359, built 1966 (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: 359
- Airframe hours: 4270
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 108 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Werback, Peter H.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1982, 90 hours before
- Departed: Q59, FREMONT, CA
- Destination: AUN, AUBURN, CA
- Airport: 06

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 398 total, 201 in this make and model, 334 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 1 statute miles

## 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 19830331010399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830331010399A), Mar 31, 1983: Bbavia 7ECA, Georgetown, CA, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed at night during marginal weather conditions. No evidence that pilot had checked weather.

## Other investigations on N9548S (3)

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 LAX80DVG53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVG53), Jun 25, 1980: Champion 7ECA (N9548S), Georgetown, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK74FVM21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK74FVM21), Mar 23, 1974: Champion 7ECA (N9548S), San Jose, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB OAK68D0119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK68D0119), Aug 8, 1967: Champion 7ECA (N9548S), San Jose, CA, substantial damage

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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