On June 25, 1988, a Champion 7ECA (registration N9504S) was involved in an aviation accident near Talcott, WV. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft maneuvering at low altitude struck trees before descending to impact the ground nearby. The pilot sustained injuries that prevented recollection of the event, and no mechanical failure was found.
What happened
According to witness accounts, the aircraft was engaged in maneuvering operations at a low altitude when it made contact with trees. Following this initial impact, the aircraft descended and struck the terrain approximately 45 feet from the tree line. It then slid for roughly 110 feet before coming to a final rest.
The pilot sustained injuries during the accident that prevented him from recalling the specific details of the event. Consequently, his account of the flight operations leading up to the collision is unavailable.
The investigation
A post-accident inspection of the aircraft was conducted to determine if equipment failure contributed to the incident. This examination failed to reveal any mechanical failures or malfunctions in the aircraft's systems.