Champion 7GCAA N9691S

Summary

On 2 February 2013 at about 21:30 local time, a Champion 7GCAA registered N9691S, operated by Keith Mustain, was involved in an accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 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

2 February 2013 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Oshkosh (OSH)

Coordinates

43.9844, -88.5567

Aircraft

Champion 7GCAA

Registration

N9691S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Keith Mustain

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshkosh → Oshkosh

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13CA187

Nobody was injured.

Fatigue cracking and failure of the left wheel strut mount resulting in collapse of the left main landing gear during taxi.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After performing three touch-and-go landings on a frozen lake, the pilot set up for a full stop landing on the plowed surface of the frozen lake. After a smooth landing, and while taxiing to park, the left wheel strut collapsed. The airplane tipped over onto its left side, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed evidence of fatigue cracking on the failed portion of the left wheel strut mount. The airplane had been flown about 50-75 hours after its last annual inspection with no problems noted by the owner. The pilot stated that he lands on frozen lakes frequently and that the collapse of the landing gear was unexpected.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.