Champion 7ECA accident near Brookings, Oregon, May 25, 2016
On May 25, 2016 at about 5:37 pm local time, a 1965 Champion 7ECA, registered N9583S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Brookings, Oregon (Brookings Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2016 · about 5:37 pm local time
- Place
- Brookings, Oregon · Brookings Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA NO SERIES, built 1965 · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N9583S · no longer on the register · serial 7ECA-372
- 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 he observed the airplane lift off and fly low over the length of the runway several times before it entered the traffic pattern to land. The airplane approached the runway normally; however, it touched down about halfway down the runway at a high rate of speed. Toward the end of the runway, the airplane turned sharply and exited the runway surface. The airplane went down an embankment and abruptly came to rest at the bottom, which substantially damaged the firewall and right wing. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the airframe or engine.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,557 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 5, 2016
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 1,557 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BOK Brookings OR at 5:15 pm
- Destination: BOK Brookings OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,900 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft; clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from BOK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Attempted Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | On Scene Photos - Courtesy of Law Enforcement | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.