Champion 7AC accident near Barnardsville, North Carolina, June 15, 1985
On June 15, 1985 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Champion 7AC, registered N83678, was substantially damaged in an accident near Barnardsville, North Carolina. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- June 15, 1985 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Barnardsville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N83678 · no longer on the register · serial 7AC2356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A SUPERVISED SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT, THE STUDENT ACFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF PWR AT CRUISE. AFTER REACHING HIS FIRST CHECK POINT, THE STUDENT REVERSED COURSE BECAUSE HE DEPARTED ON THE WRONG HEADING. BEFORE REACHING THE FIRST CHECK POINT FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE PWR LOSS WAS SUCH THAT HE COULD NOT CLEAR THE HIGH TERRAIN. HE ELECTED TO REMAIN IN THE VALLEY. WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING INTO TREES. THE ACFT HAS NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE. THEREFORE, AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENTIRE AIRFRAME AND ENG HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED.
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: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 1984; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Statesville Filing Service,Inc
The flight
- Departed from: SUH Statesville NC
- Destination: 9A9 Marion NC
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from AVL, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.