No fatalities

28 May 2020: Champion 7ECA No Series — Vine Grove, KY

Vine Grove, KY, United States

On 28 May 2020, a Champion 7ECA No Series was involved in an aviation accident near Vine Grove, KY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Aircraft control was not maintained during initial climb with gusting wind that resulted in a collision with power lines and the terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported encountering wind gusts and wind shear after takeoff, leading to a loss of control and impact with power lines and terrain, causing substantial damage to the airplane.

Accident Details

According to the pilot's report, the accident occurred after a normal takeoff and initial climb to the height of tree tops. During this phase, the airplane encountered a couple of wind gusts accompanied by wind shear. The pilot was able to recover control of the airplane, but shortly thereafter, another gust of wind caused the airplane to descend into power lines and subsequently strike the terrain. The fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The report did not specify any other contributing factors or conditions beyond the described wind gusts and wind shear.

Damage Assessment

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings of the airplane. No information was provided regarding injuries or other damage items beyond the aircraft structure. The report also did not include details about the aircraft type, registration, or operator.

Investigation Status

As of the current report, no further analysis or conclusions have been released. The pilot's account remains the primary source of information regarding the sequence of events leading to the accident.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment