Champion AERONCA 7FC N3JZ

Summary

On 2 April 2020 at about 22:30 local time, a Champion AERONCA 7FC registered N3JZ was involved in an accident near Hessel, Michigan, 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

2 April 2020 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Hessel, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Albert J Lindberg (5Y1)

Coordinates

46.0356, -84.4178

Aircraft

Champion AERONCA 7FC

Registration

N3JZ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1958

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hessel → Hessel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA138

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's loss of directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a snowbank.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he attempted a three-point, full-stall landing with a right-quartering headwind of about 10 to 15 knots. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered an unanticipated wind gust that raised the right wing and turned the airplane about 30° to the right. The pilot attempted to correct, but the airplane exited the right side of the runway and impacted a snowbank. The airplane then decelerated rapidly and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and wing strut. 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.