Champion 7ECA accident near Medford, Oregon, February 2, 1993
On February 2, 1993, a Champion 7ECA, registered N11096, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medford, Oregon (Medford airport). It was a personal 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
MOVEMENT OF THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS RESTRICTED. IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WAS A FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1993
- Place
- Medford, Oregon · Medford · 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
- N11096 · no longer on the register · serial 425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT THE END OF A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FIRST TOUCH AND GO WAS UNEVENTFUL. DURING THE SECOND LANDING, AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL RIGHT RUDDER AND PARTIAL BRAKE; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE LEFT AND EXITED THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, COLLIDING WITH A TAXIWAY SIGN BEFORE COMING TO REST. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FOUND LOCKED IN AN OFFSET POSITION. DURING THE INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT A BOTTOM PLATE WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY AND WAS OUTSIDE OF A KEYWAY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 33,600 hours in all; 1,700 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 31,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,340 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 1992; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 6,700 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°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.