Champion 7ECA accident near Grand Ledge, Michigan, October 15, 1999
On October 15, 1999 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N8353V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grand Ledge, Michigan (Abrams Municipal airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind and the tree which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1999 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Ledge, Michigan · Abrams Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N8353V · registry record · serial 294
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made two touch and go landings on runway 18, prior to landing on runway 27. He said the southerly wind had decreased and he kept the '...wing lowered...' during the approach. The airplane touched down 'lightly' and 'floated' for about 100 feet when a gust of wind from 170 degrees caused the airplane to weather-vane to a heading 45 degrees from the runway. The pilot attempted remedial action, but the airplane departed the south side of the runway into the grass where the right wing contacted and tree and the right main gear collapsed. Winds reported 10 minutes prior to the accident at an airport 8 miles east of the accident airport were from 170 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 19 knots.
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
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4D0 at 10:55 pm
- Destination: 4D0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from LAN, 8 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.