# NTSB CEN10CA197: American Champion 7GCAA, N1957C, Creve Couer, MO, April 8, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 8, 2010, 12:05 local (17:05 UTC) - Place: Creve Couer, MO - Coordinates: 38.726665, -90.508056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7267&lon=-90.5081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA197 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75691/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75691 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA197 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to go-around during a simulated engine failure and the instructor pilot's delay in remedial actions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flying pilot and owner of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was practicing touch-and-go landings from the front seat with an instructor pilot in the rear seat. After the flying pilot successfully completed four normal takeoff and landings and two downwind landings, the instructor pilot pulled out the carburetor heat and pulled the throttle to idle while on downwind to simulate an engine failure. The flying pilot turned toward the grass runway. The instructor pilot reported that the airplane was not positioned for a safe landing and he expected the flying pilot to go around. When a go-around was not initiated by the flying pilot, the instructor pilot called out “go around” and, soon after, he moved the throttle to full open. The airplane bounced and landed hard, damaging the landing gear and right wing tip. The flying pilot reported that a go-around should be initiated at "an earlier stage while simulating an engine out." ## Factual narrative The flying pilot and owner of the tail wheel equipped airplane was practicing touch and go landings from the front seat of the airplane with an instructor pilot in the rear seat. After the flying pilot successfully completed four normal takeoff and landings and two downwind landings, the instructor pilot pulled out the carburetor heat and pulled the throttle to idle while on downwind to simulate an engine failure. The flying pilot turned toward the grass runway. The instructor pilot reported that the airplane was not positioned for a safe landing and he expected the flying pilot to go around. When a go around was not initiated by the flying pilot, the instructor pilot called out “go around” and, soon after, he moved the throttle to full open. The airplane bounced and landed hard, damaging the landing gear and right wingtip. The flying pilot reported that a go around should be initiated at “an earlier stage while simulating an engine out.” ## Aircraft - Registration: N1957C (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: American Champion 7GCAA - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 470-2002 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cary Fletcher - Registered owner: CJF Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1H0, Creve Couer, MO - Destination: 1H0, Creve Couer, MO - Airport: 1H0, Creve Coeur, runway 25, 3,120 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 440 total, 34 in this make and model, 374 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 16,839 total, 107 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots, gusting 17 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100408032119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100408032119A), Apr 8, 2010: American Ch 7GCAA, St. Louis, MO, Substantial damage. The flight instructor, Mr. Ronald dillard, simulated an engine failure on downwind to runway 25R at Creve Coeur Airport (1H0). Ms. Cary fletcher was the pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75691. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 826 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Instructor Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 240 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Instructor%20Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Diagram of Accident (item 3, .PDF, 334 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328808&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Diagram%20of%20Accident-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.