Champion 7ECA accident near Arcadia, Florida, November 23, 1994
On November 23, 1994 at about 6:52 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N7579F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcadia, Florida. It was an instructional 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 FAILURE OF THE DUAL-STUDENT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF THE DUAL-STUDENT BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1994 · about 6:52 pm local time
- Place
- Arcadia, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N7579F · no longer on the register · serial 748-70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED TO FLY TOWARD THE NORTH AT ABOUT 150 FEET AND MAKE A LEFT SHALLOW WING OVER MANEUVER TO REVERSE COURSE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOST FROM SIGHT BEHIND TREES AND WAS NOT SEEN AGAIN. THE WRECKAGE OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED NOSE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED AT A LOW SPEED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT. NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE PRECRASH FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURE, FLIGHT CONTROLS, OR ENGINE WAS FOUND. THE DUAL STUDENT WHO WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT HAD INJURIES CONSISTENT WITH OPERATING THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR DID NOT HAVE INJURIES CONSISTENT WITH OPERATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 30 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,484 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 15, 1994; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGD Punta Gorda FL at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from SRQ, 40 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.