# NTSB NYC06CA194: Champion 7FC, N9866B, Harmonsburg, PA, August 5, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 5, 2006, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Harmonsburg, PA
- Coordinates: 41.640834, -80.151107
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6408&lon=-80.1511&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA Harrisburg FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06CA194
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64258/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA194

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance on final approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - tree(s)
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The airplane was on final approach to land on a 1,700-foot-long, turf runway.   The pilot reported that the airplane struck trees that were located at the approach end of the runway.  The airplane subsequently struck a power line and impacted the ground.  The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane.  He reported 2,600 hours of total flight experience, which included about 150 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

## Factual narrative

The Champion 7FC was on final approach to land on a 1,700-foot-long, turf runway.  The pilot reported that the airplane struck trees that were located at the approach end of the runway.  The airplane subsequently struck a power line and impacted the ground.  The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane.  He reported 2,600 hours of total flight experience, which included about 150 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9866B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9866B-2017-03-21), registration cancelled 2017-03-21, S/N 7FC-189, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Champion 7FC
- Registry model: [Champion 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (registry code 21101NX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7FC-189
- Engines: Teledyne Continental C90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Minnette Clepper
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005
- Departed: 3PN6, Cambridge, PA
- Destination: NONE, Harmonsburg, PA
- Airport: NONE, Private, runway 010, 1,700 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 85; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 2,600 total, 150 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: GKJ

## 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 20060805017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060805017979A), Aug 5, 2006: Bbavia 7FC, Port Meadville, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 5, 2006, at approximately 1110 local time, N9866B, an Aeronca champion 7FC with the pilot [privacy data omitted] as pilot-in-command (PIC),…

## Other investigations on N9866B (1)

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 UNK64X4114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X4114), Sep 23, 1964: Champion 7FC (N9866B), Sioux Falls, SD, 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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