Champion 7ECA accident near Gregory, Michigan, June 4, 1997
On June 4, 1997 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N5253X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gregory, Michigan (None airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper planning/decision. The tailwind and location of trees were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1997 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Gregory, Michigan · None · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5253X · registry record · serial 693
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After checking the windsocks at each end of the runway, the pilot selected runway 20 for departure. During the initial climb, the airplane began to descend, and it impacted trees. About five minutes after the accident and 22 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, a weather reporting station recorded the wind to be 030 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot reported no mechanical difficulties with the airplane at the time of the accident. After the accident, inspections of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any preexisting anomalies.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,900 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1996; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:45 pm
- Destination: OWZ Howell MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 1,400 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from KJA, 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.