SHINGLE SPRINGS, CA, USA
N1882G
CHAMPION 7ECA
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH AN OAK TREE WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALT. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING TO MAINTAIN A BATTERY CHARGE. HE SAID HE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 1600-1700 FT MSL AND FLEW SOUTHEAST. THE AVERAGE ELEVATION ALONG THIS ROUTE IS 1300 FT MSL. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE APPROACHED SHINGLE SPRINGS HIS ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE. HE TURNED TOWARD AN EMERGENCY LANDING AREA. DURING THE TURN HIS ENGINE REGAINED POWER SO HE CONTINUED THE TURN TO ROLL OUT ON HIS ORIGINAL HEADING. IT WAS DURING THIS LAST PORTION OF THE TURN THAT THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE & CRASHED WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW THE ACFT MAKE 2 COMPLETE CIRCLES OF THE AREA AT 200 FT AGL BEFORE THE COLLISION. THEY ALSO SAID HAD SEEN THIS ACFT CIRCLING THIS AREA ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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