# NTSB CEN10CA328: American Champion 7GCBC, N72EB, Arcola, TX, June 16, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 16, 2010, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Arcola, TX
- Coordinates: 29.506111, -95.476943 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5061&lon=-95.4769&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76366
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA328
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76366/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76366
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA328

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Following two successful stop-and-go landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the student pilot departed for his third solo flight around the airport’s traffic pattern. While on final approach the student’s flight instructor observed from the ground that the airplane appeared to be high and slow and requested via the aircraft radio that the student execute a go-around. The student pilot complied and while he was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern the flight instructor instructed him to make a full-stop landing. During the landing roll, the student pilot retracted the wing flaps and added engine power as if to takeoff. The flight instructor reminded the student that this was to be a full-stop landing. The student pilot then reduced engine power; however, he also released back pressure on the control stick. As the rudder lost its effectiveness, the student pilot lost directional control and the airplane exited the side of the runway. The airplane impacted a ditch and nosed over, resulting in structural damage to both wings. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed no preimpact anomalies with the airplane’s flight control system.

## Factual narrative

Following two successful stop and go landings in the tailwheel equipped airplane, the student pilot departed for his third solo flight around the airport’s traffic pattern. While on final approach the student’s flight instructor observed from the ground, that it appeared the airplane was high and slow and requested via the aircraft radio that the student execute a go-around. The student pilot complied and while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the flight instructor instructed the student to make a full stop landing. During the landing roll, the student pilot retracted the wing flaps and added engine power as if to takeoff. The flight instructor reminded the student that this was to be a full stop landing. The student pilot reduced engine power; however, he also released back pressure on the control stick. As the rudder lost its effectiveness, the student pilot lost directional control and the airplane exited the side of the runway. The airplane impacted a ditch and nosed over, resulting in structural damage to both wings. An examination of the airplane following the accident, revealed no pre-impact anomalies with the airplane’s flight control system.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N72EB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72EB), registered now, S/N 1211-95 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC
- Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1211-95
- Airframe hours: 1624
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Stearman Ventures Ltd
- Registered owner: Stearman Ventures Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 27, 2010
- Departed: AXH, Arcola, TX
- Destination: AXH, Arcola, TX
- Airport: AXH, Houston Southwest, runway 09, 5,000 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 47 total, 45 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 20100616037859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100616037859A), Jun 16, 2010: Champion Ac 7GCBC, Arcola, TX, Substantial damage. Student pilot [privacy data omitted] was flying N72EB solo in the traffic pattern at Houston Southwest Airport. He had made 2 landing prior to the final…

## Other investigations on N72EB (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 CEN20CA281](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA281), Jul 14, 2020: Champion 7GCBC (N72EB), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor and student pilot did not properly transfer airplane control during ground rollout, which resulted in the airplane exiting the runway and impacting a ditch.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 23, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76366. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333554&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.

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