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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

September 29, 1994 · Champion 7FC · N7695E

Sacramento, KY

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 29, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Sacramento, KY
Aircraft
Champion 7FC
Tail Number
N7695E
Operator
Willard D Gribbin
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO94LA162

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TAKEOFF FROM A DIRT STRIP WHICH HE HAD USED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS LONGER THAN USUAL, BUT HE WAS NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED FORWARD VISIBILITY FROM THE HIGH PITCH ATTITUDE HE LOOKED OUT THE SIDE WINDOW AND THEN NOTICED POWERLINES IN HIS PATH. HE INCREASED PITCH TO CLEAR THE POWERLINES, BUT THE AIRSPEED DECREASED. HE DECREASED PITCH TO REGAIN AIRSPEED AND NOTICED TREES AHEAD. TO AVOID THE TREES, HE TURNED RIGHT BUT THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH THE CROP AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN THE CORN FIELD.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance.

Full Narrative

On September 29, 1994, at 1900 eastern daylight time, N7695E, a Champion 7FC, owned and piloted by Willard Gribbin of Owensboro, Kentucky, crashed during takeoff from Lowe's Field in Sacramento, Kentucky. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was destroyed. The local, personal flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. The pilot reported that he landed at this airport several times. He stated that he accomplished his preflight and run-up inspections successfully. He stated that airplane was a slow climber and that he was unable to see over the cowl during the climb. The pilot stated that at the point where he normally start his left turn, he lowered the nose to increase his speed when he noticed the power line. He stated that when he looked outside he noticed the trees so he decided to veer to the right and land in the corn field but the right wing struck a tree and spun the aircraft around. According to an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot was taking off from a private strip which has trees at the departure end of the runway. The FAA Inspector stated that witnesses reported that the airplane tried to clear the trees at the end of the runway, and that the airplane veered to the left after departure. The airplane touched down in a corn field. According to the FAA, the procedure for taking off from this runway is to veer to the right after takeoff to avoid the trees.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 CDT
Nearest AirportLOWE (1nm)
Runway36
Runway Length1700 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftChampion 7FC
Tail NumberN7695E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorWillard D Gribbin
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-90-12-F · Reciprocating · 90
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind360° @ 15 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data