- Date
- May 31, 1991, 13:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Quincy, FL
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9646SChampion 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910531018799A
- Case key
- 32880
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection and the blocked vent line.
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 engine lost power shortly after takeoff and the airplane crashed while attempting to return to the airport. Post crash examination of the aircraft revealed the fuel tank vent line was clogged with an insect nest. No mechanical failures of the engine or airframe were found. Checking the fuel vent line for obstruction is an item on the preflight checklist which is contained in section iii, normal operating procedures, in the aircraft's operating manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9646S
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 393
- Airframe hours
- 3,736
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Blaine S. Blount
- Registered owner
- John R. Hudson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 2, 1991 · 30 hours before
- Destination
- 0J9 · Blountstown, FL
- Airport
- 2J9 · Quincy Municipal, runway 32, 3,000 × 75 ft
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
- 26
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 153 total · 37 in this make and model · 125 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TLH, 16 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 N9646S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.