Champion AERONCA 7GC N4889E

Summary

On 14 October 1987 at about 16:15 local time, a Champion AERONCA 7GC registered N4889E was involved in an accident near Columbia, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

14 October 1987 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

E.w. Cotton Woods Mem (K24)

Coordinates

38.9506, -92.3201

Aircraft

Champion AERONCA 7GC

Registration

N4889E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MKC88FA007

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO PRACTICE 'TAILDRAGGER' TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THEY REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT OPERATED ROUTINELY FROM ENGINE START THROUGH THE FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT OF A VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHILE STABILIZED AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY PLUMMETED NOSE FIRST AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP DSCNT.FIRE ERUPTED ON IMPACT. THE PASSENGER WAS PULLED FROM THE BURNING AIRCRAFT, BUT HE DIED LATER. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE 'UP' ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLE HAD MELTED & HAD COME APART IN THE AREA OF A GUIDE PULLEY. THE GUIDE PULLEY HAD SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL ARCING. ALSO, THE AIRCRAFT'S POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS STUCK TO THE 'UP' ELEVATOR GUIDE PULLEY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.