Champion 7ECA accident near Castlewood, Virginia, March 15, 1998
On March 15, 1998 at about 8:18 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N7507F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Castlewood, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to achieve the proper touchdown point and the delayed execution of the go around. A contributing factor was the fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 1998 · about 8:18 pm local time
- Place
- Castlewood, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N7507F · registry record · serial 718
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing towards the west on the 2,400 foot grass runway. A 3 foot high electric cattle fence bounded the east and west ends of the landing strip. Witnesses reported that the airplane touched down past midfield, bounced several times, and was approaching the end of the strip when they heard the sound of the engine accelerating. The witnesses also reported that the airplane was only a few feet above the ground in a nose high attitude as it crossed over the electric cattle fence. The airplane impacted the top of an embankment after crossing a 40 foot deep ravine. Examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical malfunction with the airframe or engine. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector examined the wreckage/crash site and reported that the top strand of wire on the electric cattle fence, which was approximately 30 inches above the ground, was broken.
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: 4,664 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VJI Abingdon VA
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from TRI, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.