American Champion 8GCBC N315AC

Summary

On 12 November 2009 at about 16:30 local time, a American Champion 8GCBC registered N315AC, operated by TMS Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Clarksville, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 November 2009 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Clarksville, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Outlaw Field (CKV)

Coordinates

36.6219, -87.4147

Aircraft

American Champion 8GCBC

Registration

N315AC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

TMS Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clarksville → Clarksville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10CA061

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was his decision to take off with a left quartering tailwind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that he elected to depart from runway 17 with a wind from 050 degrees at 7 knots with gusts to 9 knots, although runway 05 was available. During the takeoff roll he "lost directional control." The airplane departed the runway into a grassy area on the left side of the runway and then ground-looped, substantially damaging the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies. The weather reporting facility at the accident airport reported that, approximately 38 minutes before the accident and 22 minutes after the accident, the wind was from the east-northeast at 6 to 7 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.