On April 20, 1985, a Champion 7GCA (registration N9636S) was involved in an aviation accident near Collinsville, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during aerobatic maneuvers, which resulted in a spin and subsequent ground impact. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Witnesses observed an aircraft performing aerobatics near a social gathering before it entered a spin and crashed behind trees, resulting in a ground impact.
What happened
Friends and witnesses of the pilot reported observing the aircraft engaged in aerobatic maneuvers at altitudes ranging between 500 feet and 2,000 feet above ground level. The activity took place approximately one-quarter mile from an outdoor social function where attendees were gathered. Observers continued to track the flight path until the aircraft entered a spin. After completing approximately two and three-quarters revolutions, the aircraft disappeared behind trees. Shortly after this visual loss of contact, the sound of a ground impact was heard by those nearby.
The investigation
No mechanical examination or physical evidence recovery is described in the provided source material. The account relies entirely on witness testimony regarding the flight path and final moments of the operation.
Findings
The primary factor identified in the event was the loss of control during aerobatic flight. Witnesses confirmed the aircraft was performing maneuvers close to a populated area before entering a spin that led directly to the crash site behind tree cover.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during aerobatic maneuvers, which resulted in a spin and subsequent ground impact.