Champion 7ECA accident near Quinton, Virginia, January 11, 1983
On January 11, 1983 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N5175X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quinton, Virginia (New Kent airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 11, 1983 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Quinton, Virginia · New Kent
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5175X · no longer on the register · serial 682
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FOLLOWING AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THE STUDENT WAS TAKING BASIC INSTRUCTION IN TAILWHEEL ACFT AND HAD MADE ONE LANDING. FOLLOWING THE 2ND TAKEOFF, AT 150-200 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WITH THE RPM DROPPING TO THE IDLE RANGE. THROTTLE AND PRIMER WERE CHECKED AND USED TO NO AVAIL. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK CONTROL TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES AND FELL TO THE GROUND. IT WAS CUSHIONED BY THE LAST TREE WHICH WAS UPROOTED AND FELL UNDER THE ACFT. THE ENGINE WAS EXAMINED AND THE ONLY DISCREPANCY WAS THE RESTRICTION IN THE VENTURI THROAT OF THE CARBURETOR DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF LEAVES.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,064 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 2,850 as pilot in command; 2,505 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 638 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 6, 1982; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-61 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,184 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.