Champion AERONCA 7GC accident near Columbia, Missouri, October 14, 1987
On October 14, 1987 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Champion AERONCA 7GC, registered N4889E, was destroyed in an accident near Columbia, Missouri (E.W. Cotton Woods Mem airport). 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
- October 14, 1987 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Missouri · E.W. Cotton Woods Mem · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion AERONCA 7GC AERONCA 7G · all AERONCA 7GCs on the register
- Registration
- N4889E · no longer on the register · serial 7GC-63
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THE PILOT HAD PLANNED TO PRACTICE 'TAILDRAGGER' TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. THEY REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT OPERATED ROUTINELY FROM ENGINE START THROUGH THE FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT OF A VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHILE STABILIZED AT ABOUT 400 FT AGL ON FINAL APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY PLUMMETED NOSE FIRST AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP DSCNT.FIRE ERUPTED ON IMPACT. THE PASSENGER WAS PULLED FROM THE BURNING AIRCRAFT, BUT HE DIED LATER. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE 'UP' ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLE HAD MELTED & HAD COME APART IN THE AREA OF A GUIDE PULLEY. THE GUIDE PULLEY HAD SIGNS OF ELECTRICAL ARCING. ALSO, THE AIRCRAFT'S POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS STUCK TO THE 'UP' ELEVATOR GUIDE PULLEY.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,980 hours in all; 2,275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,400 ft by 37 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from COU, 12 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.
Other NTSB records under N4889E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.