# NTSB NYC94LA116: Champion 7GCAA, N2899G, Blairstown, NJ, July 11, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1994, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Blairstown, NJ
- Location: 40.9711° N, 74.9975° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BLAIRSTOWN (1N7), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9711&lon=-74.9975&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38783
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38783/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA116

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - ground (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 07.  HE STATED THAT WHEN THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, 'THE AIRPLANE TURNED RIGHT.  I COULD NOT...CORRECT IT.'  THE WING RIGHT IMPACTED THE TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK GLIDERS PARKED ON THE RAMP.  THE WIND WAS REPORTED AS LIGHT AND VARIABLE.  THE FAA EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AND FOUND NO CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS.

## Factual narrative

On Monday, July 11, 1994, at 1400 eastern daylight time,  a Champion 7GCAA, N2899G, registered to Darren A. McKeever and piloted by Allen V. Molner, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff at the Blairstown Airport, Blairstown, New Jersey.  The pilot and passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The airplane was departing on runway 07.  The pilot stated:

...when I reached liftoff speed-lifted off           and the aircraft turned to the right.  I could           not seem to correct it.  The plane ended up           on the grass-hit one parked glider and ended           up on top of another.

Mr. Morgan Brown, a Federal Aviation Administration Airwothiness Inspector, examined the airplane.  In a report he stated:

Inspected N2899G and found that all flight           controls were intact and functioned normally.

The wind was reported as light and variable.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2899G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2899G), registered now, S/N 177, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcaa) (registry code 21101N8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 177
- Airframe hours: 2027
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Darren A. Mckeever
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1994
- Destination: N07, LINCOLN PARK, NJ
- Airport: 1N7, Blairstown, runway 7, 3,100 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,879 total, 60 in this make and model, 2,879 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F

## 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 19940711018169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940711018169A), Jul 11, 1994: Bbavia 7GCAA, Blairstown, NJ, Substantial damage. Veered right after takeoff. Unable to correct. Struck 2 parked gliders. Premature lliftoff and wing stall possible.

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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