Champion 7ECA accident near Hilo, Hawaii, January 6, 1991
On January 6, 1991 at about 1:45 am local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N996MP, was destroyed in an accident near Hilo, Hawaii (Hilo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO ATTEMPT STEEP AND ABRUPT MANEUVERS DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB PHASE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 6, 1991 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Hilo, Hawaii · Hilo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N996MP · no longer on the register · serial 272
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEVERAL GROUND WITNESSES ON THE AIRPORT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT INITIATED A STEEP CLIMB AFTER LIFTOFF, THEN SEEMED TO ROLL INTO A STEEP RIGHT TURN AT ABOUT MIDFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO STALL AND ABRUPTLY ROLL TO THE LEFT OVER THE TOP INTO A SPIN ENTRY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO INITIATE A RECOVERY FROM THE SPIN BUT DID NOT REGAIN LEVEL FLIGHT PRIOR TO COLLIDING WITH THE GROUND IN AN AIRPORT RAMP AREA. THE HILO ATCT SAID THE PILOT REQUESTED A RIGHT TURN OUT ON DEPARTURE TO PROCEED TO THE LOCAL PRACTICE AREA. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR FROM THE HONOLULU FSDO. THE INSPECTOR FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE ENGINE OR AIRCRAFT CONTROL SYSTEM.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,257 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 2,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°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.
Other NTSB records under N996MP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.