Champion 7ECA accident near Nashua, New Hampshire, April 23, 2007
On April 23, 2007 at about 10:50 am local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N6341N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nashua, New Hampshire (Boire Field). It was a banner-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudged altitude while maneuvering for a banner pickup, which resulted in the banner rope becoming entangled in the airplane's landing gear, and a hard landing, during the ensuing emergency off airport landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2007 · about 10:50 am local time
- Place
- Nashua, New Hampshire · Boire Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N6341N · registry record · serial 328
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Banner-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Champion 7ECA was on approach to pick up a banner that was positioned on the grass, next to the runway. The pilot stated that just prior to flying over the banner poles, he realized that he was flying too low; however, before he was able to take corrective action, the airplane's left main landing gear caught the banner's lead rope. The pilot reduced engine power, and performed an emergency off airport landing. The airplane landed hard, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical problems with the 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 648 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 556 as pilot in command; 346 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,264 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,630 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 10:45 am
- Destination: ASH Nashua NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 am from ASH
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.