# NTSB CEN20CA104: Champion 7ECA, N2987Z, Athens, TX, February 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 27, 2020, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Athens, TX - Coordinates: 32.419998, -95.819999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4200&lon=-95.8200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101011 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101011/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101011 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA104 ## Probable cause The rear seat pilot and the student pilot's failure to see and avoid trees during initial climb following an aborted landing. ## 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: [Bellanca 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the rear seat reported that the flight was conducted to familiarize the student pilot, who was in the front seat, with the private airstrip and surrounding obstacles. The airplane touched down "a little" long and bounced. The student aborted the landing and initiated a "max performance" climb. The pilot reported that he had briefed the student about the obstacles near the departure end of the runway but that he was unable to see the obstacles from the rear seat during climbout. The airplane impacted two trees, the right wing struck a utility pole, and the airplane then impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount, fuselage, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot-in-command (PIC) in the back seat reported that the flight was conducted to familiarize the student pilot, in the front seat, with the private airstrip and surrounding obstacles. The airplane touched down "a little" long and bounced. The student pilot aborted the landing and initiated a "max performance" climb. The PIC reported that he had briefed the student pilot as to the obstacles around the departure end of the runway, but the PIC was unable to actually see the obstacles from the rear seat during climb out. The airplane's left wing collided with a tree that was left of the runway centerline. The right wing also struck a tree before the airplane impacted the ground in a nose down attitude. The airplane sustained damage to the engine mount, fuselage and both wings. The PIC reported there were no anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2987Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2987Z-2021-11-15), registration cancelled 2021-11-15, S/N 1246-78, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA (No Series) - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1246-78 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5882 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 16, 2019 - Departed: PVT, Athens, TX - Destination: PVT, Athens, TX - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 02, 1,150 × 100 ft, dirt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 13, 2019; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,917 total, 154 in this make and model, 5,649 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 22 total, 22 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KF44, 15 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 20200227004949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200227004949A), Feb 27, 2020: Bellanca 7ECA, Athens, TX, Destroyed. On 02/27/2020 at 1700 local, a citabria, N2987Z, owned by ^phillip b. zimmerman^, while on a part 91 flight, during landing, attempted a go-around, during… ## Other investigations on N2987Z (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 LAX02LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA009), Oct 21, 2001: Bellanca 7ECA (N2987Z), Chandler, AZ, minor damage. Probable cause: The Bellanca pilot's failure to maintain directional control while taxiing due to his improper brake usage. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101011. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 360 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.