Champion 7EC accident near Near Isleton, California, September 2, 1982
On September 2, 1982 at about 9:33 pm local time, a Champion 7EC, registered N141A, was destroyed in an accident near Near Isleton, California. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1982 · about 9:33 pm local time
- Place
- Near Isleton, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N141A · no longer on the register · serial 7EC-420
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE ON A LOCAL FLIGHT TO FLY TO THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER DELTA TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH A BREAK IN THE RIVER'S LEVEL, AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER'S BOAT. A CONSENSUS OF THE WITNESSES WAS THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CIRCLING THE AREA WHEN IT STRUCK UNMARKED POWER LINES THAT TRAVERSED THE RIVER. AFTER IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE WATER AND SANK. LATER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RECOVERED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF PREEXISTING MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE PLANE'S PERFORMANCE. THE PILOT DID NOT POSSESS A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
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: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MOD Modesto CA at 1:34 pm
- Destination: MOD Modesto CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 203°F (95°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from SCK, 23 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.