Champion 7KCAB accident near Danville, Illinois, October 2, 2022
On October 2, 2022 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1969 Champion 7KCAB, registered N869TT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Danville, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot decision to perform a precautionary landing to a field with obstacles which resulted in a ground loop. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate fuel planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2022 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB, built 1969 · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N869TT · registry record · serial 157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while enroute on a cross-country flight and about 10 miles from her destination airport, she elected to execute a precautionary landing to a field due to low fuel. During the approach to land, the pilot noticed obstacles and attempted to maneuver the airplane away from the obstacles. The airplane touched down smoothly, however, during the rollout, the airplane struck a ditch. The airplane’s left wing contacted the ground and the airplane ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard section of the left wing. Examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that both fuel tanks were nearly empty. The pilot reported that she should have stopped earlier to refuel.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel related during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,860 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 16, 2022; 14 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO320E2A (piston); 4,798 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLP Marion IN at 5:30 pm
- Destination: DVN Danville IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from KDNV
Weather report (METAR): KDNV 022235Z AUTO 02008KT 10SM CLR 22/09 A3026 RMK AO2 T02190085
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 13, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN23LA002 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Field Examination Findings CEN23LA002 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array CEN23LA002 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.