# Accident 20200402000479A: Champion AERONCA 7FC, Hessel, MI, April 2, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2020, 18:40 local time
- Place: Hessel, MI
- Airport: Albert J. Lindberg
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.0356° N, 84.4178° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0356&lon=-84.4178&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3JZ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3JZ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Champion AERONCA 7FC (registry code 2110162, https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-aeronca-7fc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION AERONCA 7FC
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 122 total, 51 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA138) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200402000479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON APRIL 2, 2020 AT 18:40 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), AN AERONCA 7FC AIRCRAFT, N3JZ, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT FOR A PERSONAL FLIGHT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT STRUCK A SNOW BANK WHILE ON LANDING ROLLOUT.

VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND LIGHT WINDS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PRIVATE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT AND RECEIVED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM ALBERT J. LINDBERG FIELD (5Y1) HESSEL, MI AT APPROXIMATELY 18:30 EDT.

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 27 WHEN A GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE RIGHT WING AND THE AIRCRAFT WEATHERVANE TO THE RIGHT AND DEPARTING THE PREPARED SURFACE. THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE SNOW-COVERED EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND FLIPPED ON TO ITS BACK AT SLOW SPEED.

WEATHER AT MCD AIRPORT AT 22:35 ZULU WAS: WIND 270 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, CLEAR, TEMP 44 DEW POINT 30 AND ALTIMETER 3010. PILOT REPORTED HE ESTIMATED THE WINDS AT 5Y1 WERE 310 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN20CA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA138), Apr 2, 2020: Champion Aeronca 7FC (N3JZ), Hessel, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and impact with a snowbank.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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