Champion 7ECA N5174X

Summary

On 18 April 2009 at about 17:30 local time, a Champion 7ECA registered N5174X, operated by DAVID HARTLEY and JEFF BLANTON, was involved in an accident near San Jose, California, 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

18 April 2009 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

San Jose, California, United States

Coordinates

37.3599, -121.6705

Aircraft

Champion 7ECA

Registration

N5174X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

DAVID HARTLEY and JEFF BLANTON

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Watsonville → Wilton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09FA200

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering within a canyon in mountainous terrain, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot and private pilot rated passenger were on visual flight rules day cross-country flight within visual meteorological conditions on a generally direct course between the departure and destination airports. Review of recorded data from a hand held global positioning system (GPS) revealed that the flight departed and climbed to a cruise altitude. The flight continued at that altitude until entering a canyon with rising mountainous terrain surrounding the area. The recorded GPS data depicted a steady climb through the canyon at a rate less than the rate of terrain elevation rise, with decreasing airspeed at a constant rate. The end of the recorded data showed a climbing left turn near the accident site towards steep rising terrain. There were no known witnesses to the accident sequence. Examination of the wreckage and accident site revealed that impact damage signatures on the nose, wings, and fuselage were consistent with a stall and/or spin. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies were discovered with the engine or airframe.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.