Incident Overview
On October 30, 2015, at approximately 1715 central daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, registration N9105L, was involved in an accident near Sheridan, Arkansas. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck trees and the ground during a forced landing. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
Flight Details
The flight was originating from the Sheridan Municipal Airport (9M8) as a personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not on a flight plan. The pilot had performed a run-up before takeoff, and all engine indications were normal.
Sequence of Events
After departing from runway 1, the airplane climbed to about 700 feet above ground level (agl) when the engine began to lose power. The pilot initiated a 180-degree turn back toward the airport, but engine power continued to deteriorate. Unable to maintain level flight, the pilot elected to perform an off-airport landing. During the forced landing, the airplane contacted pine trees approximately 40 feet above the ground. The trees pushed the airplane rearward, and it fell to the ground nose first.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed no debris or obstruction of the fuel lines or fuel tank vent. Operation of the engine controls was normal. No anomalies could be found with respect to the engine. A test run of the engine was performed with no defects in operation noted.
Weather Conditions
The recorded weather conditions at Grider Field Airport, Pine Bluff, Kansas, about 22 miles southeast of the accident site, included a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and a dew point of 11 degrees Celsius. These conditions were in a range of susceptibility for moderate icing at cruise power and serious icing at descent power.