Champion 7AC N1397E

Summary

On 3 July 2009 at about 15:25 local time, a Champion 7AC registered N1397E was involved in an accident near Westminster, Maryland, United States. One person was 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

3 July 2009 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Westminster, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Clearview Airpark (2W2)

Coordinates

39.4669, -77.0178

Aircraft

Champion 7AC

Registration

N1397E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Westminster → Baltimore

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA386

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to properly set the throttle for start.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he attempted to start the engine by "hand-propping." The engine started briefly and then stopped. The pilot added that he then primed the engine but "forgot the throttle in the full open position." He hand-propped the engine again, and it started. The airplane began to accelerate forward and became airborne. The airplane flew down a ravine and collided into trees. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if the airplane had been tied down during the engine start.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.