Champion 7ECA accident near Newark, Illinois, September 25, 1991
On September 25, 1991 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N5164T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newark, Illinois (Cushing Field). It was an instructional 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
A SHEARED OLEO PISTON RETAINING PIN WHICH ALLOWED THE WHEEL TO FALL OUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 25, 1991 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, Illinois · Cushing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5164T · registry record · serial 178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON LIFTOFF FROM A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, THE PISTON ROD OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR OLEO EXTENDED BEYOND ITS TUBE, FREEING THAT MAIN WHEEL TO FALL TO A TRAIL POSITION. THE PILOT LANDED FULL STOP ON THE LEFT MAIN AND TAIL WHEELS. THE OLEO PISTON RETAINING PIN WHICH CONNECTS THE ROD SHEARED IN COMPRESSION. PORTIONS OF THE OLEO ASSEMBLY SHOWED PREVIOUS DAMAGE AND WEAR, WHILE THE O-RING SEAL WAS NEWER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 953 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 348 in the last 90 days; 114 in the last 30 days; 850 as pilot in command; 555 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,755 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 1991; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flying C Leasing, LTD
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,831 ft by 180 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:30 pm from ARR, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.