American Champion 7GCBC N80RK

Summary

On 29 May 2016 at about 23:15 local time, a American Champion 7GCBC registered N80RK was involved in an accident near Warner, New Hampshire, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 May 2016 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Warner, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

43.2536, -71.8644

Aircraft

American Champion 7GCBC

Registration

N80RK

Category

Airplane

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bingham → North Canaan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16CA197

1 person was seriously injured.

An encounter with instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in the pilot's spatial disorientation and a loss of airplane control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was conducting a local sightseeing flight in visual meteorological conditions when the airplane inadvertently entered instrument meteorological conditions. While maneuvering, he lost visual reference with the ground. The airplane entered a steep descending turn, and collided trees. Both wings separated from the airframe and the fuselage was crushed. Weather conditions reported at an airport that was located about 17 nautical miles from the accident site, included, overcast clouds at 1,100 feet above ground level. The elevation of the accident site was about 1,700 feet mean sea level. The pilot reported that he experienced no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.