Champion 7ECA accident near Lake Elsinore, California, June 17, 2009
On June 17, 2009, a Champion 7ECA, registered N8339V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Elsinore, California (Corona Muncipal 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
A loss of airplane control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2009
- Place
- Lake Elsinore, California · Corona Muncipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N8339V · no longer on the register · serial 196
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot's spouse reported that the pilot and his friend were planning to fly to a local airport for lunch and then return back to his home airport. The airplane was found later that night in hilly terrain; there were no witnesses. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector responded to the accident site and reported that the airplane came to rest inverted on sloping terrain. The entire wreckage was present at the accident site, and the inspector was able to establish flight control continuity. Both wings showed similar leading to trailing edge crush damage and the empennage and tail were bent over the cockpit area, consistent with the airplane having stalled prior to impacting the ground. The reported weather in the area at the time was generally clear skies with wind from the northwest about 10 knots. A postaccident engine inspection revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during unknown defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,486 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F70 Murrieta/Temecu CA
- Destination: AJO Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from RAL, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.