Champion 7EC accident near Upland, California, March 5, 2015
On March 5, 2015 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 1953 Champion 7EC, registered N8905R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Upland, California (Cable 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 5, 2015 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Upland, California · Cable · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7EC NO SERIES, built 1953 · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N8905R · no longer on the register · serial 7EC-712
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated pilot was receiving tailwheel instruction and stated he was practicing touch-and-go landings. On his seventh landing, the airplane went to the right of the center line and he overcorrected. The flight instructor took the controls of the airplane. The right wing struck the ground and the airplane departed the runway to the left. The airplane subsequently ground looped which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 7,000 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 270 hours in all; 1.5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,295 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors C90 (piston); 2,277 hours total
- Operator: Cable Aircraft Company INC
The flight
- Departed from: CCB Upland CA at 9:40 pm
- Destination: CCB Upland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,863 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KONT, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.