- Date
- January 21, 1989, 13:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Luxemburg, MN
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7596EChampion 7EC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 11, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890121000969A
- Case key
- 34671
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 failed to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall and loss of aircraft control. The pilot's failure to observe weight and balance limitations of the aircraft was a contributing factor.
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
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft circling at a very low altitude prior to it descending rapidly to collision with the terrain. Investigation revealed the pilot had exceeded weight and balance parameters in that the aircraft was over the allowable takeoff weight and exceeded the aft center of gravity limits.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7596E
- Reported as
- Champion 7EC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7EC-681
- Engine
- Continental C-90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Donald R Pfannenstein
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 10, 1988
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
- 61
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,444 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 37 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- STC, 28 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.