Champion 7GCAA N9085L

Summary

On 29 June 2009 at about 01:25 local time, a Champion 7GCAA registered N9085L was involved in an accident near Shelbyville, Indiana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2009 at 01:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Shelbyville, Indiana, United States

Coordinates

39.7689, -85.8339

Aircraft

Champion 7GCAA

Registration

N9085L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boggstown → Shelbyville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09LA396

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the mixture control cable. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate maintenance on the airplane and the pilot's decision to operate the airplane in a condition that was not airworthy.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and a student pilot were practicing a simulated engine out maneuver. At 150 feet above ground level, the pilot increased the engine power but the engine did not respond. The pilot then attempted a forced landing to a field. During the landing flare, "the engine tried to come back..." After touchdown, the airplane ground-looped and sustained substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed the mixture cable had fractured and separated. The airframe records showed the airplane's last annual inspection had not been completed in the preceding 12 months. Prior to the flight, the pilot had not reviewed the airplane logbooks to determine if the airplane was airworthy.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.