Champion 7EC accident near Hamilton, Ohio, May 11, 1990
On May 11, 1990 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Champion 7EC, registered N4352C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton-Fairfield). 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1990 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hamilton, Ohio · Hamilton-Fairfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N4352C · registry record · serial 7EC-371
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WITH A PASSENGER HAD CONCLUDED A LOCAL FLIGHT WITH PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST ON THE SECOND LANDING AND THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, CROSSED A DITCH & TAXIWAY, AND IMPACTED TREES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, HOWEVER THE OCCUPANTS REPORTED NO INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARINGS REVEALED NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE HAD AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE AIRCRAFT'S PERFORMANCE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,308 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,182 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,671 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1989; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,130 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from DAY, 22 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.