Aeronca CHAMPION 7BCM accident near Suffolk, Virginia, November 8, 1990
On November 8, 1990 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Aeronca CHAMPION 7BCM, registered N7702B, was destroyed in an accident near Suffolk, Virginia (Suffolk Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO LOW CYLINDER COMPRESSION. THE LOW COMPRESSION WAS A RESULT OF EXHAUST VALVE LEAKAGE AND INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRPLANE STALLING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 1990 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Suffolk, Virginia · Suffolk Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca CHAMPION 7BCM CHAMPION 7
- Registration
- N7702B · registry record · serial 7BCM-288
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING OUT AFTER THE SECOND TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, WHEN WITNESSES REPORTED HEARING POPPING NOISES FROM THE ENGINE. THE ACFT NOSED DOWN, DESCENDED, AND CRASHED IN A WOODED AREA ABOUT 1,000 FT PAST THE END OF THE RWY. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A COMPRESSION TEST READING OF 17/80 FOR THE #2 CYLINDER; THE EXHAUST VALVE GUIDE AND SEAT WERE MISALIGNED. IN ADDITION, ALL THE ENGINE INTAKE CONNECTOR HOSES WERE DRY-ROTTED, THE SPARK PLUGS APPPEARED TO BE GAPPED TOO TIGHTLY, AND ONE LEAD WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS DONE ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND THE ACFT HAD OPERATED ABOUT 15 HRS SINCE THEN.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 31, 1990; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from ORF, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.