Champion 7FC accident near Wellsville, Pennsylvania, June 18, 2011
On June 18, 2011 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Champion 7FC, registered N7583E, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Wellsville, Pennsylvania (Shreveport North 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 adequate airspeed on final approach which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 18, 2011 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wellsville, Pennsylvania · Shreveport North Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N7583E · no longer on the register · serial 7FC-271
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was on final approach for landing behind another airplane. He decreased his airspeed and continued the approach until the airplane was about 10 feet above the runway. He added a little power and the airplane stalled. The airplane collided with the runway in a flat attitude. The nose landing gear separated, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and firewall. The pilot reported no mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Hard landing during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 212 hours in all; 163 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 212 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,322 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2010; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C90 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N16 Centre Hall PA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 62PA Wellsville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,670 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from THV, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.