Champion 7GCBC accident near Prosser, Washington, June 20, 1992
On June 20, 1992 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N1812G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Prosser, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION AND AIRSPEED WAS NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: AN UNCONTROLLED STALL/SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 1992 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Prosser, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N1812G · no longer on the register · serial 96
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS REPORTED THAT IT WAS COMMON FOR THE STUDENT PILOT TO FLY AROUND HIS HOUSE TO WAVE HELLO (WAG THE AIRPLANE'S WINGS). THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL AND MAKING A SHALLOW RIGHT TURN ABOUT THE HOUSE. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES THROUGH THE TURN, THE BANK ANGLE SUDDENLY INCREASED AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE DROPPED. THE AIRPLANE COMPLETED ONE SPIN ROTATION BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. DURING THE POST-CRASH INSPECTION, THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 169 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 16.5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,386 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1991; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.