Champion CITABRIA 7GCBC accident near Ely, Minnesota, January 29, 1986
On January 29, 1986 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Champion CITABRIA 7GCBC, registered N1856G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ely, Minnesota. It was a business 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 29, 1986 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion CITABRIA 7GCBC CITABRIA 7
- Registration
- N1856G · registry record · serial 12
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DESCENT FROM 1000 FT AGL TO 200 FT AGL TO PHOTOGRAPH WILDLIFE THE PILOT APPLIED CARB HEAT. WHEN HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE AT 200 FT TO LEVEL OFF THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SETTLED INTO TREES. TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS -5 DEG F., SKYS WERE CLEAR. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A POWER LOSS. 31 GALLONS OF FUEL WERE ON BOARD AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 951 hours in all; 951 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 907 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,202 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, December 24, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kawishiway Riv. MN at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 5°F (-15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N1856G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.