American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC and Cessna R172K mid-air collision near Landmark, Idaho, July 7, 2014
On July 7, 2014 at about 1:34 pm local time, 2 aircraft, American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC (N162CG) and Cessna R172K (N7390K), were involved in a mid-air collision near Landmark, Idaho. 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the overtaking airplane’s pilot to maintain visual contact and separation from the airplane being overtaken.
The failure of the overtaking airplane’s pilot to maintain visual contact and separation from the airplane being overtaken.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2014 · about 1:34 pm local time
- Place
- Landmark, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, built 2008 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N162CG · registry record · serial 1453-2009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna R172K, built 1976 · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7390K · no longer on the register · serial R1722070
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC final · quoted from the NTSB record
The American Champion pilot and the Cessna pilot had prearranged to fly into the destination airport and meet the morning of the accident. After takeoff, the American Champion pilot obtained visual contact with the Cessna as it departed a nearby private airstrip. The Cessna was below and behind the American Champion at its 5-o'clock position. Both pilots were in radio communications with each other, and the Cessna pilot stated that he had the American Champion in sight. The Cessna pilot stated that his groundspeed was 129 knots, and the American Champion pilot stated that hers was 101 knots. Over the radio, the Cessna pilot stated that he had passed the American Champion. The American Champion pilot was 11 miles northwest of the destination airport and had lost visual contact with the Cessna. About that time, the American Champion pilot saw the Cessna appear under her airplane's left wing, overtake her airplane from behind and below, and subsequently collide with the propeller; the Cessna then disappeared downward. The American Champion pilot performed a dead stick landing into an open meadow. The Cessna descended to the ground and was destroyed by a postcrash fire. Radar replay video showed the two airplanes traveling in the same general direction, with the trailing airplane (the Cessna) converging on the lead airplane (the American Champion). Radar contact between both airplanes was lost before the actual collision.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna R172K final · quoted from the NTSB record
The American Champion pilot and the Cessna pilot had prearranged to fly into the destination airport and meet the morning of the accident. After takeoff, the American Champion pilot obtained visual contact with the Cessna as it departed a nearby private airstrip. The Cessna was below and behind the American Champion at its 5-o'clock position. Both pilots were in radio communications with each other, and the Cessna pilot stated that he had the American Champion in sight. The Cessna pilot stated that his groundspeed was 129 knots, and the American Champion pilot stated that hers was 101 knots. Over the radio, the Cessna pilot stated that he had passed the American Champion. The American Champion pilot was 11 miles northwest of the destination airport and had lost visual contact with the Cessna. About that time, the American Champion pilot saw the Cessna appear under her airplane's left wing, overtake her airplane from behind and below, and subsequently collide with the propeller; the Cessna then disappeared downward. The American Champion pilot performed a dead stick landing into an open meadow. The Cessna descended to the ground and was destroyed by a postcrash fire. Radar replay video showed the two airplanes traveling in the same general direction, with the trailing airplane (the Cessna) converging on the lead airplane (the American Champion). Radar contact between both airplanes was lost before the actual collision.
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 for the American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,056 hours in all; 587 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 4,981 as pilot in command; 2,725 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 26, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 395 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 412 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMYL Mccall ID at 1:15 pm
- Destination: ID74 Cascade ID
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from KMYL, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna R172K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 990 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,306.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2013
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360-KB6B (piston); 130 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ID59 Lake Fork, Id ID at 1:15 pm
- Destination: ID74 Cascade ID
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.