# NTSB MIA01LA149: Champion 7ECA, N1669G, Greensboro, NC, May 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 2001, 19:54 local (23:54 UTC) - Place: Greensboro, NC - Coordinates: 36.180732, -79.810775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1807&lon=-79.8108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52375 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA01LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52375/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA01LA149 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during takeoff/initial climb, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, an uncontrolled descent, and collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had rotated about 800 feet down the runway, and climbed about 100 feet, when the aircraft suddenly made an uncommanded left turn and came to rest in some trees. The pilot further stated that he supposed that inadvertent rudder input or p-factor caused the left turn due to slow airspeed prior to stall. He said there had not been any mechanical failure or malfunction to the aircraft or any of its systems prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2001, about 1954 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N1669G, registered to Omni Aviation Inc., and operated as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, crashed into trees during takeoff/initial climb at Air Harbor Airport, Greensboro, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot and one pilot-rated passenger were not injured, and the aircraft incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that it had been a normal takeoff, with all engine and flight indications being normal. The pilot further stated that he had rotated about 800 feet down the runway, and had climbed to about 100 feet, when the aircraft suddenly made an uncommanded left turn. He said he tried to recover, but there was no response to control inputs, and the aircraft impacted the tops of pine trees, coming to rest at a height of about 30 feet into the trees. The pilot stated that he supposed that inadvertent rudder input or p-factor caused the left turn, due to slow airspeed, prior to stall. The pilot reiterated that there had not been any mechanical failure or malfunction to the aircraft's engine, or to any of the aircraft systems prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1669G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1669G), registered now, S/N 642 (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: 642 - Airframe hours: 2816 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-CI 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Omni Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 6, 2000, 32 hours before - Departed: W88, Greensboro, NC - Airport: W88, Air Harbor, runway 27, 2,460 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 10, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 3,210 total, 30 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GSO, 7 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 20010530010429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010530010429A), May 30, 2001: Bbavia 7ECA, Greensboro, NC, Substantial damage. (-23)See narrative MIA01LA149 (.19)on may 30, 2001, about 1954 eastern daylight time, a champion 7ECA, N1669G, registered to omni aviation inc., and operated… 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.