Champion 7ECA accident near Ocala, Florida, March 7, 1989
On March 7, 1989 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N8350V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ocala, Florida (Grey Stone airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE DRIVER TO SEE AND YIELD TO THE ACFT THAT WAS LANDING ON RWY 27. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: VEHICLE ON THE RUNWAY AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 7, 1989 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ocala, Florida · Grey Stone
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N8350V · registry record · serial 85
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO LAND ON RWY 27 (GRASS RWY), WHICH INTERSECTED RWY 36 (PAVED RWY). RWY 27 EXTENDEDWEST OF RWY 36 & INTERSECTED IT AT THE PAVED RWY'S MIDFIELD AREA. WHILE FLARING OVER THE INTXN TO LAND, THE ACFT'S LEFT MAIN GEAR HIT A VEHICLE, WHICH WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON THE LEFT EDGE OF RWY 36 & WAS ALSO CROSSING AT THE INTXN. DRG IMPACT, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED, BUT THE PLT CONTD THE LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF RWY 27 BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE PLT'S MED CERT WAS DATED 12/3/86.
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: 134 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,571 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 1988; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X35 Dunnellon FL at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,660 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from GNV, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.