Champion 7ECA accident near Quincy, Florida, May 31, 1991
On May 31, 1991 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N9646S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quincy, Florida (Quincy Municipal 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION AND THE BLOCKED VENT LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1991 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Quincy, Florida · Quincy Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N9646S · no longer on the register · serial 393
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE FUEL TANK VENT LINE WAS CLOGGED WITH AN INSECT NEST. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME WERE FOUND. CHECKING THE FUEL VENT LINE FOR OBSTRUCTION IS AN ITEM ON THE PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST WHICH IS CONTAINED IN SECTION III, NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURES, IN THE AIRCRAFT'S OPERATING MANUAL.
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: 153 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 125 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,736 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 1991; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 0J9 Blountstown FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from TLH, 16 miles away
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.