Champion 7ECA accident near Lewes, Delaware, August 17, 1982
On August 17, 1982 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N1886G, was destroyed in an accident near Lewes, Delaware. 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
- August 17, 1982 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lewes, Delaware · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N1886G · registry record · serial 428
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 15 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A MANEUVER FROM LOW ALTITUDE OVER A BEACH AREA. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE PLANE PULLED UP, ENTERED A STEEP CLIMB AND THEN BANKED OR ROLLED LEFT AND ENTERED A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. BEFORE RECOVERING, IT STRUCK THE SAND AT THE WATERS EDGE, BOUNCED AND THEN CAME TO REST IN SHALLOW WATER. REPORTEDLY, THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL, EXCEPT WHEN THE PLANE DESCENDED AND TURNED, ONE WITNESS NOTED THAT THE SOUND LEVEL ROSE IN PITCH. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE REVEALED NO INDICATION OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE PILOT WEIGHED 270 LBS AND OCCUPIED THE FRONT SEAT WHILE THE 180 LB PASSENGER WAS IN THE AFT SEAT. REPORTEDLY, THE PLANE HAD 35 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD BEFORE TAKEOFF, BUT WAS WITHIN ITS WEIGHT AND BALANCE LIMITS. THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY RECEIVED 25 HRS OF DUAL INSTRUCTION FOR BANNER TOWING AND HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE OPERATORS WAIVER FOR AUTHORIZATION TO TOW.
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: 870 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 790 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,343 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Garrison Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Rehoboth Beach DE at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Rehoboth Beach DE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 187°F (86°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:57 pm from SBY, 37 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.
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.