Champion 7KCAB accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts, August 5, 2006
On August 5, 2006 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Champion 7KCAB, registered N7533F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hyannis, Massachusetts. It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
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 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hyannis, Massachusetts · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N7533F · no longer on the register · serial 273-70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the Champion 7KCAB, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane, and estimated the fuel level by observing the fuel gauges, checking the fuel computer, and "sticking [his] finger in the tank." He did not visually check the amount of fuel in the fuel tanks. The pilot then departed on a banner towing flight, and after 40 minutes of flight time the engine lost total power. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to the water below, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Examination of the fuel tanks after the airplane was recovered from the water revealed that the right tank was empty, and the left tank contained about 1/8 inch of liquid spread across the bottom of the tank. Following the accident, the pilot learned that during the previous flight the fuel computer had been reset to indicate full fuel. Following that flight, the airplane was not serviced with fuel.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,140 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 177 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PYM Pylmouth MA
- Destination: PYM
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.