Champion 7ECA accident near Seal Beach, California, October 27, 1985
On October 27, 1985 at about 8:54 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N7547F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seal Beach, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- October 27, 1985 · about 8:54 pm local time
- Place
- Seal Beach, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N7547F · no longer on the register · serial 729-70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BASED UPON PREARRANGED PLANS, THE PLT & PAX FLEW OVER THE WATER FOR THE PURPOSE OF PHOTOGRAPHING FRIENDS OF THEIRS IN SAIL BOATS. THE PLT ROLLED HIS ACFT INTO A MEDIUM BANK & CIRCLED OVER THE SPECIFIED BOAT WHILE HIS PAX COMMENCED TAKING PHOTOS. THE PLT, DISTRACTED BY THE SAILBOAT, FAILED TO BE ATTENTIVE TO HIS ACFT'S ALTITUDE & HE DESCENDED UNTIL COLLIDING WITH THE WATER. THE ACFT QUICKLY SANK & ALTHOUGH THE REAR SEATED PIC WAS ABLE TO EXTRICATE HIMSELF, THE FRONT SEATED PAX'S HEAD STRUCK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL & HE DROWNED.
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: 379 hours in all; 295 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 295 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,977 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1985; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Charles E. Mann Enterprises
The flight
- Departed from: CPM Compton CA at 8:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.