Champion 7AC accident near San Antonio, Texas, July 1, 2003
On July 1, 2003 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Champion 7AC, registered N84426, was substantially damaged in an accident near San Antonio, Texas (San Geronimo Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain minimum required airspeed while maneuvering, resulting in an inadvertent stall of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2003 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · San Geronimo Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7AC · all 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N84426 · registry record · serial 7AC3123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While flying over a wild animal orphanage and observing the animals, the pilot stated that he started losing altitude after completing a turn. The pilot added that he "straightened it out, but he still couldn’t maintain altitude." The airplane came to rest nose down in a wooded area inside the animal sanctuary. The IIC calculated the density altitude to be approximately 3,288 feet at the time of 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 761 hours in all; 761 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 26, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,945 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2003; 36.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8T8 San Antonio TX at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 8T8 San Antonio TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from SAT, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.