Champion 7GCBC accident near Weyers Cave, Virginia, April 26, 2025

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

During the second landing of an instructional flight to obtain currency in tailwheel airplane takeoffs and landings. The first takeoff and landing were uneventful. During the second approach, while abeam the numbers on the downwind leg of the pattern, the pilot receiving instruction reduced engine power, applied carburetor heat, and began a descent. While turning from base leg to final, the instructor told the pilot to increase engine power to not fly below the proper glidepath; the pilot advised that the engine was not responding to throttle input. The instructor took control of the airplane and lowered the nose to maintain airspeed. He then verified that the fuel, mixture, primer, switches, and carburetor heat controls were in the correct position. About 300 ft above ground level (agl), the instructor realized the airplane was too low to clear a road and guardrail just before the runway, so he chose to turn right to land in a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a wire fence, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on its right wing. Postaccident examination revealed no airplane or engine anomalies that would have affected normal operation except that the carburetor heat control and valve were found in the mid-range position. An icing probability chart indicated “Serious Icing – glide power” for the recorded temperature and dew point about the time of the accident. Engine manufacturer service instructions included a caution to not use a mid-range position for carburetor heat control on aircraft, like the accident airplane, that were not equipped with a carburetor air temperature gauge. The mid-range position of the carburetor heat control, along with the ambient temperature and dew point, could have resulted in carburetor ice after reducing engine power on approach, resulting in a total loss of engine power. However, the position of the carburetor heat control before the accident could not be confirmed due to impact damage to the airbox.

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.

Photographs from the investigation 9 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

Photograph 1 – Main WreckagePhotograph 2 – Main Wreckage Close-up [Carburetor Heat Control]Photograph 3 – Carburetor Heat ControlPhotograph 4 – EnginePhotograph 5 – Top Spark PlugsPhotograph 6 – Carburetor Heat ValvePhotograph 7 – Carburetor BowlPhotograph 8 – Carburetor FloatsPhotograph 9 - Gascolator

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.