On July 10, 1983, a Champion 7ECA (registration N1882G) was involved in an aviation accident near Shingle Springs, CA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft struck an oak tree after an engine misfire while maneuvering at low altitude in VMC. The pilot reported flying to maintain battery charge and had turned toward an emergency landing area when power returned, then hit a tree during a turn.
Introduction
An aircraft collided with an oak tree during low-altitude maneuvering in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). The pilot was flying to maintain a battery charge, according to his statement.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported climbing to approximately 1600–1700 feet mean sea level (MSL) and flying southeast. The average elevation along the route was about 1300 feet MSL. As the aircraft approached Shingle Springs, the engine began to misfire. The pilot initiated a turn toward an emergency landing area. During the turn, the engine regained power, so the pilot continued the turn to roll out on the original heading. It was during this final portion of the turn that the aircraft struck a tree and crashed.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft make two complete circles of the area at about 200 feet above ground level (AGL) before the collision. They also stated that they had observed this aircraft circling the same area on previous occasions.