# NTSB CEN19TA310: Champion 7KCAB, N4136Y, Winnsboro, LA, September 7, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report
- Date: September 7, 2019, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Winnsboro, LA
- Coordinates: 32.220001, -91.870002 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2200&lon=-91.8700&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 100221
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19TA310
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100221/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100221
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19TA310

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a crosswind landing, which resulted in an impact with a tree.

## 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: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/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: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220701), [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: [Bellanca 7KCAB, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220701), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on the turf runway, the airplane bounced once followed by a "normal" touchdown on the main gear. The airplane started veering to the left and the pilot applied right rudder to correct, but it had "no effect." The airplane slowed "considerably" and continued veering to the left. The airplane subsequently impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane. The recorded wind conditions from a nearby airport were consistent with a left crosswind for the landing runway.

## Factual narrative

On September 7, 2019, about 1000 central daylight time, a Champion 7KCAB airplane, N4136Y, impacted a tree during landing on runway 36 (3,000 ft by 75 ft, turf) at the Williams Flying Service Airport (6LA6), near Winnsboro, Louisiana. The commercial pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage. The airplane was registered to an individual and was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight departed from 6LA6 about 0930. The pilot reported that during the landing touchdown on the runway the airplane bounced once followed by a "normal" touchdown on the main landing gear wheels. The airplane then veered left off the runway centerline. Right rudder was applied, and it had "no effect." The airplane slowed "considerably" and continued veering to the left after full right ruder was applied. The airplane subsequently impacted a tree where it sustained the substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions. At 0953, the recorded nearby wind was 280° at 10 kts.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4136Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4136Y-2020-11-12), registration cancelled 2020-11-12, S/N 595-76, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Champion 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 595-76
- Year built: 1976
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 23, 2018
- Departed: 6LA6, Winnsboro, LA
- Destination: 6LA6, Winnsboro, LA
- Airport: 6LA6, Williams Flying Service, runway 36, 3,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2018; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 1,382.9 total, 38 in this make and model, 1,250.6 as pilot in command, 4.4 in the last 90 days, 4.4 in the last 30 days, 0.4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KMLU, 16 nm away

## 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 20190907024259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190907024259A), Sep 7, 2019: Bellanca 7KCAB, Winnsboro, LA, Destroyed. Pilot departed 6LA6 a grass strip in mangham, LA. The airplane was a 1976 Bellanca citabria, which the pilot took on a flight with his nephew. Upon return…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100221. 4.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 790 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476363&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photos - Supplied By The Recovery Company And FAA (item 2, .PDF, 10 photos, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476364&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20-%20Supplied%20By%20The%20Recovery%20Company%20And%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40476365&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.

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