American Champion Aircraft 7AC accident near Berkley, Massachusetts, October 17, 2011
On October 17, 2011 at about 9:15 pm local time, a American Champion Aircraft 7AC, registered N3662E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Berkley, Massachusetts (Myricks Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain clearance from a tree during the final approach in solar glare conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2011 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Berkley, Massachusetts · Myricks Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N3662E · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-6977
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported encountering solar glare during landing on runway 27. The airplane impacted a tree on the right edge of the approach end of the runway, then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted about 140 feet from the tree. The airplane sustained damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or anomalies. According to U.S. Naval Observatory data for the day of the accident, sunset occurred at 1800, about 45 minutes after the accident.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 136 in this make and model
- Last flight review: March 1, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,428 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C65 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Unknown
- Destination: 1M8 Berkley MA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 27, 2,466 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 8:52 pm from TAN, 5 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.