# NTSB CEN11CA450: American Champion 7GCBC, N79RA, Sugar Land, TX, July 2, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 2, 2011, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Sugar Land, TX
- Coordinates: 29.62, -95.653892 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6200&lon=-95.6539&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviaiton Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80997
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA450
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80997/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80997
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA450

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## 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 · 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)

## Analysis

Following a cross-country flight, the pilot lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the landing roll. The airplane exited the side of the runway and ground-looped before coming to rest in an upright position. During the ground-loop, the right wheel broke off and the right wing sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

Following a cross-country flight, the pilot lost directional control of the tailwheel equipped airplane during the landing roll. The airplane exited the side of the runway and ground looped before coming to rest in an upright position. During the ground loop, the right wheel broke off and the right wing sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N79RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N79RA), registered now, S/N 1312-2001, built 2001 (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: 1312-2001
- Airframe hours: 840
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Anson Air LLC
- Registered owner: Anson Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2011
- Departed: DWH, Spring, TX
- Destination: SGR, Sugar Land, TX
- Airport: SGR, Sugar Land Regional, runway 17, 8,000 × 100 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 22, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 248 total, 33 in this make and model, 177 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 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 20110702025089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110702025089A), Jul 2, 2011: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Sugar Land, TX, Substantial damage. The PIC was landing rwy 17 at Sugar Land regional airport (sgr) in a conventional gear aircraft. After landing and on roll out the pilot stated that the tail…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80997. 116 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352111&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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