Aeronca CHAMP 7AC accident near Victorville, California, September 11, 1987
On September 11, 1987 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Aeronca CHAMP 7AC, registered N85022, was substantially damaged in an accident near Victorville, California. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- September 11, 1987 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Victorville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca CHAMP 7AC
- Registration
- N85022 · registry record · serial 7AC-3747
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CLIMBING OUT OVER A RIDGE, THE INSTRUCTOR, WHO WAS SITTING IN BACK, HEARD HIS STUDENT YELL SOMETHING. THE INSTRUCTOR LOOKED OUT THE FRONT WINDSCREEN JUST IN TIME TO SEE POWERLINES. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE STUDENT PUSHED THE STICK FORWARD TO GO UNDER THE POWER LINES AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THIS INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. THE STUDENT CANNOT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS REPORTED. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE FROM 250 AT 5 KNOTS AT THE TIME AND THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT WEATHER WAS NOT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AS THEY WERE CLIMBING OUT OVER THE RIDGE, THE INSTRUCTOR THOUGHT HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT SINKING FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.
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: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,670 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 506 in the last 90 days; 194 in the last 30 days; 1,545 as pilot in command; 490 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,684 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 13, 1987; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Midfield Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: APV Apple Valley CA at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Observation at 9:55 pm from VCV, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.