Champion 7KCAB accident near Hampshire, Illinois, August 5, 1997
On August 5, 1997 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Champion 7KCAB, registered N5066X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hampshire, Illinois (Sky Soaring airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, and his excessive use of brakes, which resulted in a nose over. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind condition, and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1997 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hampshire, Illinois · Sky Soaring · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N5066X · registry record · serial 149
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing after towing and releasing a glider. The wind was from 020 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot said, 'I landed to the west, runway 27, on the Sky Soaring [airport] grass strip and was slowing down to a speed at which the rudder had lost effectiveness. The airplane started a slight ground loop toward the right (north), which I corrected by use of the left heel brake. But, the airplane was still headed 15 to 20 degrees right of the runway centerline, toward a glider tied down on the north side of the field. I stepped on both heel brakes to stop the forward movement, and the airplane nosed over and ended on its back.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The pilot had only about 7 hours in this make and model of 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 703 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 531 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,224 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1997; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.