Champion 7FC accident near Harmonsburg, Pennsylvania, August 5, 2006
On August 5, 2006 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Champion 7FC, registered N9866B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harmonsburg, Pennsylvania (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain the proper altitude/clearance on final approach, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 2006 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Harmonsburg, Pennsylvania · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N9866B · no longer on the register · serial 7FC-189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on final approach to land on a 1,700-foot-long, turf runway. The pilot reported that the airplane struck trees that were located at the approach end of the runway. The airplane subsequently struck a power line and impacted the ground. The pilot reported that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the airplane. He reported 2,600 hours of total flight experience, which included about 150 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental C90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3PN6 Cambridge PA at 3:10 pm
- Destination: NONE Harmonsburg PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 010, 1,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from GKJ
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.