Champion 7EC accident near Fayetteville, Arkansas, March 24, 2019
On March 24, 2019 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 1956 Champion 7EC, registered N815PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Fayetteville, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff as he attempted to avoid power lines, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 2019 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fayetteville, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7EC 453, built 1956 · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N815PB · no longer on the register · serial 7EC453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from a private lake, the float plane did not "climb as the day before." Upon reaching the end of the lake, he "pulled up hard" on the yoke to avoid power lines, but the "left wing [stalled]," and the float plane impacted the ground. The float plane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots. An automated weather observation station about 5 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 11 knots. The airplane departed the lake with a 180° heading.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 8, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,474 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming N235-C1 (piston); 3,084 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fayetteville AR at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Fayetteville AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KFYV, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 11, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.