Champion 7ECA accident near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1989
On October 4, 1989 at about 5:35 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N123DA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE RIGHT FUEL VENT BECAME CLOGGED ALLOWING THE LEFT FUEL TANK TO BECOME EXHAUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR THE FUEL SUPPLY IN EACH TANK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1989 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N123DA · registry record · serial 798-71
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT AT 500 FEET THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT LANDED IN A WOODED AREA IN HILLY TERRAIN. THE LEFT TANK WAS FOUND EMPTY & THE RIGHT TANK WAS FULL. THE AIRPLANE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL SELECTOR VALVE. THE RIGHT TANK FUEL VENT CHECK VALVE HELD A GUMMY SUBSTANCE IN THE FLIPPER VALVE SEAT AREA. THE FUEL TANK FILLER CAPS ARE NOT VENTED. FUEL GAUGES FOR EACH TANK ARE LOCATED ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF EACH FUEL TANK.
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: 40,800 hours in all; 10,000 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 40,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1989; 800 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Freemont OH at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC90LA004.