Amateur-built S-7 COURIER accident near Marion, Ohio, September 7, 1991
On September 7, 1991 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built S-7 COURIER, registered N42784, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Ohio (Marion Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SEPARATION BEHIND A DEPARTING LARGER AIRCRAFT RESULTED IN TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER & SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1991 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Ohio · Marion Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built S-7 COURIER S-7 COURIE
- Registration
- N42784 · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 22, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING A LARGER AIRPLANE. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED INVERTED AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTIUTDE. WITNESSES STATED THAT THEY SAW ITS 'WINGS ROCKING' JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE FAA FOUND NO FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 526 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 36 in the last 30 days; 470 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 49 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1991; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,025 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 14G Freemont OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.