Champion 7EC accident near Point Pleasant, West Virginia, June 27, 2003
On June 27, 2003 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Champion 7EC, registered N7570E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Point Pleasant, West Virginia (Mason County Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The CFI's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2003 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Point Pleasant, West Virginia · Mason County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N7570E · registry record · serial 262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After touching down on the runway, the certified flight instructor (CFI) advanced the throttle and the airplane began to accelerate normally. At approximately 50 miles per hour, the CFI raised the tailwheel, and the airplane began to swerve to the right. The CFI applied left rudder and aileron to correct the swerve, but despite the corrections, the airplane continued its path toward trees located east of the runway. At that point, the CFI decided to reduce the power, and the airplane struck a tree. The CFI did not report any malfunctions with the airframe or engine during the flight.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,550 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 6,350 as pilot in command; 2,700 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 24, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 154 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C 85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3I2 Point Pleasant WV at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 3I2 Point Pleasant WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from HTS, 39 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.