Champion 7ECA

Aircraft Manufacturer: Champion

Model: 7ECA

About the Champion 7ECA

The 7ECA is the most-registered model in Champion's active lineup. The type accounts for about 26% of the manufacturer's active registered fleet, and more than 400 7ECA aircraft remain on the U.S. civil registry.

Across every registry record the 7ECA has ever held, about 60% are still active. The remaining share has left the rolls, with more than 200 7ECA airframes removed from the U.S. civil registry.

The 7ECA has 32 recorded accidents. Of those 32 recorded 7ECA accidents, 6 were fatal. Measured over the type's own FAA-registration exposure, the 7ECA's accident rate runs about 3.7 per 1,000 aircraft-years.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Champion
Manufacturer Serial Number 21101NN
Model 7ECA
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
Cruise Speed 90 MPH / 78 knots
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Reciprocating
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 2 seats
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Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

97%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


30 exact, 1 recovered, 1 provisional

Methodology
32
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


6 fatal accidents.

18.8% of recorded accidents were fatal.

418
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


8,710

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
0.9%
Exposure
1.0%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.

2008 – 2026 Total 32
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 32 observed): 2008 1, 2009 4, 2010 2, 2011 1, 2013 2, 2014 2, 2015 4, 2016 4, 2017 2, 2018 1, 2019 2, 2020 1, 2024 2, 2025 3, 2026 1. 2 4 6 8 0 1 '08 4 '09 2 '10 1 '11 2 '13 2 '14 4 '15 4 '16 2 '17 1 '18 2 '19 1 '20 2 '24 3 '25 3 '26
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

6 categories Total 32
Landing 12
Initial climb 6
Maneuvering 6
Enroute 4
Takeoff 2
Unknown 2
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 93
Personnel issues 37
Aircraft 34
Environmental issues 19
Not determined 3
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 32
None 17
Serious 7
Fatal 6
Minor 2

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (32)

Recorded Accidents

All 56 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
St. George, UT N9976Y Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
East Rockingham, NC N63BC Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Wasilla, AK N5169X Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Cottonwood, CA N6310N Destroyed Fatal unknown unknown
Longview, TX N798L Substantial None unknown unknown
Sussex, NJ N9580S Substantial Minor Enroute Personnel issues, Aircraft
Beaufort, NC N9581S Substantial Serious Enroute unknown
Watervliet, MI N8618V Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft
Lakeport, TX N798L Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Longview, TX N793L Substantial None Taxi unknown
El Cajon, CA N57679 Substantial None Approach Aircraft
Midlothian, TX N11648 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Hopkinsville, KY N8679V Substantial None Initial climb Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Hampton, NH N2895Z Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
La Porte, TX N86612 Substantial None Approach Aircraft, Environmental issues
Longview, TX N790L Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Vine Grove, KY N9557S Substantial None Initial climb Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Starkville, MS N9566S Substantial Minor Enroute Aircraft, Personnel issues
Pembroke Pines, FL N2561G Substantial Serious Maneuvering Personnel issues
Fairbanks, AK N8646V Substantial None Maneuvering Environmental issues
Warsaw, KY N8698 Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft
MORRILTON, AR N6333N Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Butler, PA N9682S Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Van Nuys, CA N2537F Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Moss Hill, TX N787MW Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft

Page 1 of 3 (showing accidents 1–25 of 56).

Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.