Champion 7FC accident near Watkins, Colorado, May 23, 1985
On May 23, 1985 at about 6:17 pm local time, a Champion 7FC, registered N781VY, was destroyed in an accident near Watkins, Colorado (Front Range airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1985 · about 6:17 pm local time
- Place
- Watkins, Colorado · Front Range · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N781VY · no longer on the register · serial 7FC 319
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS STATED THE ACFT VEERED APRX 30 DEGS DURING THE LANDING ROLL AND WAS HEADING TOWARD THE NORTH EDGE OF THE RWY WHEN FULL PWR WAS ADDED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE ACFT TOOK OFF AND TRAVELED OVER A GRASS AND WHEAT FIELD, WHICH BORDERS THE RWY, WITH THE LANDING GEAR TOUCHING THE TOPS OF THE WHEAT. WITNESS CONTINUED TO REPORT, 'THE PILOT THEN GAINED AN ESTIMATED 40 FEET OF ALTITUDE AGL BUT ALSO APPEARED TO BE, IN MY OPINION, CLOSE TO FULL STALL.' THE ACFT CONTINUED TO FLY ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RWY FOR APRX 2500 FT BEFORE IT ENTERED A STEEP RIGHT BANK AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND RIGHT WING TIP FIRST. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ACFT DISCLOSED A BROKEN MAIN AILERON BELLCRANK. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE BELLCRANK FAILURE RESULTED FROM A SUDDEN OVERLOAD. THE PLT HAD A TOTAL OF 5 HRS FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL ACFT.
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: 282 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 800 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 7, 1984; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APA Englewood CO at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 8,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.