Champion 7ECA accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico, August 31, 1992
On August 31, 1992 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N11080, was substantially damaged in an accident near Angel Fire, New Mexico (Angel Fire airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE EVALUATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WHICH RESULTED IN EXCEEDING THE CLIMB CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE INADVERTENT STALL WAS ALSO A CAUSE. FACTORS WERE THE DOWNDRAFT AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 1992 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Angel Fire, New Mexico · Angel Fire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N11080 · no longer on the register · serial 162
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF WITH A COMPUTED DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 9,500 FEET THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AGL THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPER CLIMB RATE AND WAS IN A DOWNDRAFT. DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE ENTERED AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT WHEN THE PILOT STALLED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN THE INVERTED POSITION OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND GUSTY WINDS PREVAILED IN THE AREA.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,472 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,417 as pilot in command; 830 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,338 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 1992; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXX at 10:25 pm
- Destination: GUP Gallup NM
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 8,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from SKX, 32 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.