On December 25, 1987, a Champion 7ECA (registration N11089) was involved in an aviation accident near Keymar, MD. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Witnesses observed the aircraft bank left and nose down into a dirt field after takeoff, with no engine sound change. Examination revealed a separated elevator cable at a point where a loose grounding strap from the battery box was found, both showing arcing evidence.
Incident Overview
Witnesses reported hearing and observing the aircraft during its takeoff. Shortly after becoming airborne, the aircraft banked to the left and then nosed down into an adjoining dirt field. Notably, witnesses stated that there was no change in engine sound during the maneuver.
Examination Findings
A post-accident examination of the wreckage was conducted. The investigation revealed that an elevator cable had separated at a specific location. At that same point, a grounding strap was found hanging loose from the battery box. Both the elevator cable and the grounding strap exhibited evidence of arcing damage. Furthermore, each component contained elements associated with the other in the area where the arcing damage was observed.