On April 25, 1993, a Champion 7ECA (registration N2510F) operated by Split S Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Newark, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: AN INADVERTENT STALL. A FACTOR WAS: THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During tailwheel checkout at a private airport, a security guard drove onto the runway, prompting a steep climb and bank. The pilot-in-command's diverted attention led to an accelerated departure stall and ground impact.
Incident Overview
A pilot-in-command was conducting a checkout for a second pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane at a private-use airport. The flight involved practicing touch-and-go landings. During one landing, a security guard drove onto the runway to record the aircraft's registration number. In response, the pilots pulled the airplane up to an altitude of 50 to 100 feet above ground level and initiated a steep right bank.
Distraction and Maneuver
The pilot-in-command's attention was diverted out the left side of the airplane. When he redirected his focus to the front, the airplane was beginning to strike the ground. According to the airplane owner and operator, the aircraft entered a full-power, accelerated departure stall during the maneuver.