Champion 7ECA N36268

Summary

On 5 October 2018 at about 17:00 local time, a Champion 7ECA registered N36268 was involved in an accident near Cleveland, Texas, United States. One person was 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

5 October 2018 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Cleveland, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.3364, -94.9394

Aircraft

Champion 7ECA

Registration

N36268

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cleveland → Cleveland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA019

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusting crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while landing on a private grass airstrip in a crosswind, a wind gust from the right made the tailwheel-equipped airplane weathervane into the wind. He added that, while correcting for the crosswind, the airplane drifted left, and the left main landing gear sunk into soft ground. The airplane then pivoted left, the right main landing gear exited the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right wing spar, and left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that the wind was variable at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.