- Date
- August 17, 1982, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Lewes, DE
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1886GChampion 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 17, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820817038789A
- Case key
- 71417
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
About 15 min after takeoff, the aircraft was observed to enter a maneuver from low altitude over a beach area. During the maneuver, the plane pulled up, entered a steep climb and then banked or rolled left and entered a nose down attitude. Before recovering, it struck the sand at the waters edge, bounced and then came to rest in shallow water. Reportedly, the engine sounded normal, except when the plane descended and turned, one witness noted that the sound level rose in pitch. An examination of the aircraft and engine revealed no indication of a preimpact malfunction or failure. The pilot weighed 270 lbs and occupied the front seat while the 180 lb passenger was in the aft seat. Reportedly, the plane had 35 gal of fuel on board before takeoff, but was within its weight and balance limits. The pilot had recently received 25 hrs of dual instruction for banner towing and had been included in the operators waiver for authorization to tow.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1886G
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 428
- Airframe hours
- 1,343
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Garrison Aviation
- Registered owner
- Garrison Aviation
- Departed
- Rehoboth Beach, DE
- Destination
- Rehoboth Beach, DE
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 870 total · 25 in this make and model · 790 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Temperature
- 187 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SBY, 37 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.