Champion 7GCBC accident near Lake Elsinore, California, August 2, 1991
On August 2, 1991, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N1693G, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California. It was a personal flight 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 IN-FLIGHT FAILURE OF THE RIGHT ELEVATOR. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DECISION TO PERFORM AEROBATICS AT AN IMPROPER ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1991
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N1693G · no longer on the register · serial 136
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED THE PRIVATELY OWNED AIRPORT ON AN ACROBATIC FLIGHT OVER A LAKE. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ENTER INTO A SERIES OF LOOPS AND ROLLS AT LESS THAN 300 FT ABOVE THE GROUND. WHEN IT ENTERED A HAMMERHEAD STALL MANEUVER THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SPIN IN A NEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE FROM WHICH IT DID NOT RECOVER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE LAKE IN THIS ATTITUDE KILLING THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THE RIGHT ELEVATOR TUBE FAILED AT ITS BUTT-WELD JOINT WHILE IN FLIGHT.
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: 32,316 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,572 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 1990; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L49 Lake Elsinore CA at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.