On March 31, 1983, a Champion 7ECA (registration N9548S) was involved in an aviation accident near Georgetown, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft struck a tree and then collided with a mountainside at 3,500 feet in a 45-degree nose-down attitude during IMC conditions on a dark, stormy night. The pilot was not instrument-rated, no flight plan was filed, and no record of a weather briefing exists.
Overview
An aircraft operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at night struck a 30-foot tree before colliding with a mountainside at the 3,500-foot level. The impact attitude was approximately 45 degrees nose-down. The accident occurred during stormy weather with rain, as reported by witnesses in the area.
Sequence of Events
According to the investigation, the aircraft first impacted a tree and then the terrain. No radio communications were conducted during the flight; the aircraft's radio was tuned to the emergency frequency of 121.5 MHz. The pilot had not filed a flight plan and there is no record that a weather briefing was obtained.
Pilot Information
The pilot was not instrument-rated. No further details about the pilot's experience or qualifications are available.
Aircraft Examination
Post-accident examination verified the integrity and continuity of all flight controls. No evidence of an in-flight structural failure or power loss was found.