Champion 7FC accident near Alliance, Ohio, August 12, 1998
On August 12, 1998 at about 1:57 pm local time, a Champion 7FC, registered N8520E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alliance, Ohio (Barber Airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance during the approach which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience and lack of experience in the make and model of the accident airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1998 · about 1:57 pm local time
- Place
- Alliance, Ohio · Barber Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N8520E · no longer on the register · serial 330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was practicing touch and go landings, with a private pilot rated passenger seated in the rear seat. On the fourth landing, the airplane was observed to extend its downwind leg and looked 'very low' on final approach. The airplane descended at the same rate it was observed to descend on the previous landing attempts, and no pitch changes were observed. The airplane impacted a stand of trees, nosed over, and impacted terrain. The airplane came to rest approximately 467 feet from the runway threshold. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions of the airframe or engine. The airplane was using automotive gasoline per a supplemental type certificate. The spark plugs were covered with black carbon deposits. The pilot had about 63 total flight hours, of which about 10 hours were in make and model. His last logged flight was about 7 months prior to the accident. The carburetor icing probability chart published by the FAA, placed the temperature/dew-point reported at an airport about 18 miles west of the accident site, in the 'serious icing at glide power,' section.
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: 63 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1994; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OH07 Marlboro OH at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 2D1
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,088 ft by 130 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from CAK, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.