Champion 7FC accident near Moneta, Virginia, October 14, 2020
On October 14, 2020 at about 8:05 pm local time, a 1958 Champion 7FC, registered N7532E, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Moneta, Virginia (Smith Mountain Lake Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fight instructor’s failure to ensure that the fuel selector handle was in the correct position, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2020 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Moneta, Virginia · Smith Mountain Lake Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC, built 1958 · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N7532E · no longer on the register · serial 7FC-242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was providing instruction to the private pilot in the tailwheel equipped vintage airplane. The flight instructor was seated in the rear seat and the private pilot was seated in the front seat. On the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, the flight instructor told the private pilot to apply carburetor heat. The carburetor heat knob and fuel selector handle were located near each other, behind the private pilot, who inadvertently moved the fuel selector handle, rather than the carburetor heat knob. The flight instructor moved the fuel selector handle back and took control of the airplane to demonstrate a touch-and-go landing. During subsequent initial climb, about 50 to 100 ft above ground level, the engine lost all power and the flight instructor performed a forced landing into trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He added that it was possible that he did not position the fuel selector handle back to the correct position. Subsequent examination of the fuel selector handle by a mechanic revealed that the fuel valve operated normally. Given this information, it is likely that the flight instructor failed to position the fuel selector handle correctly, which subsequently resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fuel starvation during initial climb defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incomplete action › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,041 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 148 in the last 90 days; 33 in the last 30 days; 946 as pilot in command; 734 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 3, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 141 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 29, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,961 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2020; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,499 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Seaplanes R Fun, Inc.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,058 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from ROA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.