Champion 7GCAA accident near Independence, Oregon, June 13, 1982
On June 13, 1982 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Champion 7GCAA, registered N9528S, was destroyed in an accident near Independence, Oregon (Independence State airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- June 13, 1982 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Independence, Oregon · Independence State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N9528S · no longer on the register · serial L15904-27A
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A FULL STALL LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AT THE MOMENT OF TOUCHDOWN. FULL POWER WAS APPLIED FOR A GO-AROUND, BUT REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT BACK TO THE RIGHT TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE PROXIMITY OF HOUSES PREVENTED A TURN. THE PILOT PULLED UP TO CLEAR THE HOUSE IMMEDIATELY AHEAD. AFTER CLEARING THE HOUSE, THE AIRCRAFT MUSHED AND HIT A GARAGE/HANGER. ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY, IT HIT THE GROUND. AFTER COMING TO REST IN THE BACK YARD OF THE HOME, IT BEGAN TO BURN. BOTH OCCUPANTS EGRESSED WITH MINOR INJURIES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RIGHT RUDDER TAIL WHEEL SPRING HAD FAILED. THIS ALLOWED THE LEFT SPRING TO RECOIL AND PULL THE TAIL WHEEL TO THE LEFT. A CESSNA, N21230, WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE/HANGAR, ITS WING TIP WAS DAMAGED FROM THE IMPACT. THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE PREVIOUS TAKEOFF, THE PLANE SWERVED SLIGHTLY JUST BEFORE LIFT-OFF.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,439 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 158 in the last 90 days; 1,288 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 973 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Flying Machnines INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Independence OR at 3:45 pm
- Destination: Independence OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 151°F (66°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.