Champion 7ECA accident near Fort Collins, Colorado, May 10, 2005
On May 10, 2005 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N11065, was destroyed in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado (Fort Collins Downtown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which failed to assure adequate takeoff performance to clear obstacles. Contributing factors included the miscalculated weight and balance and the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 2005 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Collins, Colorado · Fort Collins Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N11065 · registry record · serial 79
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that they had just filled the tanks with fuel and the airplane was loaded "right at gross weight." He stated that approximately 200 feet agl and 3/4 down the runway, the airplane "stopped climbing and started sinking." The pilot attempted to increase the airspeed by lowering the nose; however, the airplane continued to descend. The pilot reduced the power to avoid the power lines. The airplane impacted a tree and came to rest on its right side causing substantial damage. According to the FAA inspector who traveled to the scene, the airplane was overloaded and exceeded the gross takeoff weight by at least 18 pounds. According to the Fort Collins-Loveland METAR (aviation routine weather report), the temperature was 16 degrees Celsius (C), the dew point was 04 degrees C, and the altimeter setting was 29.80 inches. Calculated density altitude was 6,500 feet.
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
- Flight time: 266 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 237 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Other crew
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 114 hours in all; 7 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,430.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2004; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 0-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3V5 Fort Collins CO at 4:00 pm
- Destination: CBK Colby KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 5,300 ft by 44 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from FNL, 8 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.