- Date
- December 12, 1987, 11:58 local (16:58 UTC)
- Place
- Ocoee, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4387CChampion 7EC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19871212070169A
- Case key
- 32110
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
The plt rprtd that before takeoff, he made a thorough preflt, which included a check of the fuel sys for contaminates & water, but no discrepancies were noted. Shortly after takeoff, at an alt of aprx 100 ft, the eng sputtered & lost pwr. The plt stated he made a left turn to land in a clearing, but the main gear hit a pile of dirt. Later, an exam of the carburetor revealed that it contained water. The plt stated that drg the preflt, he rocked the wings of the acft before draining fuel sample & possibly did not allow enough time for adnl water to accumulate. The plt was taken to a medical center & treated for minor injuries. A check of his blood showed a very low lvl of alcohol (0.0074%). The last annual inspn of the acft was dated 7/3/86.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4387C
- Reported as
- Champion 7EC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7EC416
- Airframe hours
- 3,471
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Pearlman, David
- Registered owner
- David Pearlman
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 3, 1986 · 20 hours before
- Airport
- X30 · Orlando West, runway 36, 2,430 × 150 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 66
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 7,512 total · 200 in this make and model · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ORL, 11 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.
Other investigations on N4387C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.