Champion 7ECA accident near Willard, Missouri, June 21, 1997
On June 21, 1997 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N7506F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willard, Missouri (Bird Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
remedial action delayed by the flight instructor. A factor in this accident was the instructor's lack of recent experience in this type airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 1997 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willard, Missouri · Bird Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N7506F · registry record · serial 717
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane approached the runway threshold, the private pilot, according to the flight instructor, reduced the power. The instructor said he felt the airplane begin to sink more than he thought it should. He said he told the pilot to add power. The instructor said he tried to apply power and felt the pilot opposing his attempt to move the throttle. A witness said the airplane approached the runway '...slow and too low.' He said the airplane flared to high and stalled about 20 feet above the ground. He said he heard the power increase just before the airplane made the hard landing. The instructor said he had never flown this type airplane from the rear seat before this flight. He said he had acquired about 12 hours in airplanes similar to the accident airplane. He was unable to recall how long it had been since he last flew an airplane similar to the accident airplane.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 860 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 825 as pilot in command; 265 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2MO1 at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,800 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from SGF, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.