Champion 7ECA accident near Cambridge, Nebraska, December 21, 1986
On December 21, 1986 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N2674G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cambridge, Nebraska. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1986 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cambridge, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N2674G · no longer on the register · serial 464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LOW TIME PIC HAD BEEN FLYING HIS ACFT OVER THE FARM LAND IN SEARCH OF COYOTES. SEVERAL OF THE GRD CREW HAD FLOWN AS PSNGRS WITH HIM DURING THE TIME PERIOD OF THIS SEARCH. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY SAW THE ACFT TURN LEFT AND RIGHT AS IT WAS SPOTTING THE ANIMALS. ONE WITNESS INDICATED THAT HE SAW THE ACFT TURN LEFT AND PITCH UP AND DESCEND INTO THE GND IN AN ATTEMPT TO SPOT AN ANIMAL. THE ACFT HAD BEEN FLOWN AT LOW ALTITUDE DURING THE SPOTTING. NO STRUCTURAL FAILURE WAS NOTED DURING THE INSPECTION OF THE ACFT AND CONTROL CONTINUUTY WAS CONFIRMED. THE ACFT ENGINE WAS RUNNING DURING THE IMPACT, AND THE PROPELLER BOLTS SHOWED SEPARATION FM THE MOUNTING FLANGE.
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: 103 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 1986; 23 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: Cambridge NE at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.
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.