Summary
On October 17, 2011, a American Champion Aircraft 7AC (N3662E) was involved in an accident near Berkley, MA. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot did not maintain clearance from a tree during the final approach in solar glare conditions.
According to police officers who responded to the accident site, the pilot reported encountering solar glare during landing on runway 27. The airplane impacted a tree on the right edge of the approach end of runway 27, then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted about 140 feet from the tree contact location. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or anomalies with the airplane. The inspector reported damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and right wing. Despite several attempts to contact the pilot, no statement could be obtained, and the pilot did not complete the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form, 6120.1. According to U.S.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA12CA035. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3662E.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot did not maintain clearance from a tree during the final approach in solar glare conditions.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
According to police officers who responded to the accident site, the pilot reported encountering solar glare during landing on runway 27. The airplane impacted a tree on the right edge of the approach end of runway 27, then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted about 140 feet from the tree contact location. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, who examined the airplane after the accident, found no evidence of mechanical malfunction or anomalies with the airplane. The inspector reported damage to the engine firewall, fuselage, and right wing. Despite several attempts to contact the pilot, no statement could be obtained, and the pilot did not complete the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form, 6120.1. According to U.S. Naval Observatory sun and moon data for the day of the accident, sunset occurred at 1800, approximately 45 minutes after the accident.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA12CA035