Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB WPR09LA293
CHAMPION 7ECA — Lake Elsinore, CA
| Date | June 17, 2009 |
| Location | Lake Elsinore, CA |
| Aircraft | CHAMPION 7ECA |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | Unknown |
| Pilot total time | 3,486 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | 46 hrs |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
What happened
The pilot's spouse reported that the pilot and his friend were planning to fly to a local airport for lunch and then return back to his home airport. The airplane was found later that night in hilly terrain; there were no witnesses. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and reported that the airplane came to rest inverted on sloping terrain. The entire wreckage was present at the accident site, and the inspector was able to establish flight control continuity. Both wings showed similar leading to trailing edge crush damage and the empennage and tail were bent over the cockpit area, consistent with the airplane having stalled prior to impacting the ground. The reported weather in the area at the time was generally clear skies with wind from the northwest about 10 knots. A postaccident engine inspection revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.