Champion 7AC N3006E

Summary

On 6 July 1991 at about 00:45 local time, a Champion 7AC registered N3006E, operated by Maskal, Anthony : Nicholas, was involved in an accident near Burns, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 July 1991 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Burns, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

43.5902, -118.8898

Aircraft

Champion 7AC

Registration

N3006E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Maskal, Anthony : Nicholas

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homedale → Burns

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA91FA156

2 people died.

IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT (PILOT-IN-COMMAND), AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE STUDENT PILOT/OWNER/OPERATOR FROM CARBON MONOXIDE, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT PLT WAS THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE ACFT. HE AND THE PASSENGER WERE ON A PLEASURE FLT IN AN AREA OF MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. THE ACFT WAS SEEN TO TURN INTO A VALLEY WHERE IT SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT AN ELEVATION OF ABOUT 5500 FT. DURING IMPACT, THE WINGS WERE BENT DOWN AND FORWARD; THERE WAS A 45 DEG CRUSH LINE ON THE LEADING EDGES OF THE WINGS. NO GROUND SCARS WERE FOUND TO INDICATE MOVEMENT AFTER GROUND IMPACT. THE ACFT'S LAST ANNUAL INSPN WAS DATED 7/22/87; HOWEVER, THE STUDENT PLT CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE ACFT; HE PERFORMED OIL CHANGES HIMSELF. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE WAS FOUND. THE STUDENT'S LAST MEDICAL EXAM WAS DATED 11/25/87. A TOXICOLOGY EXAM OF THE STUDENT PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED A SATURATION OF 20% CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN. A FLT SURGEON REPORTED THAT THIS PERCENTAGE COULD CAUSE A HEADACHE, A STATE OF CONFUSION, DIZZINESS AND VISUAL DISTURBANCE. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT DETERMINE IF THE ACFT HEATER SYSTEM COULD HAVE BEEN THE SOURCE OF CARBON MONOXIDE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.