# NTSB CEN20CA281: Champion 7GCBC, N72EB, Houston, TX, July 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 14, 2020, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Houston, 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: 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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 101601 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101601/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101601 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA281 ## 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. ## 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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that the student pilot made a stable approach to the runway during an orientation flight. During ground rollout, the airplane veered to the left and the flight instructor stated "I have the controls" on two different occasions. The student pilot did not understand the flight instructor, which resulted in the two pilots "fighting" over the flight controls. The airplane subsequently exited the runway and struck a ditch, damaging the right wing. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor stated that the student pilot made a stable approach to the runway during an orientation flight. During ground rollout, the airplane veered to the left and the flight instructor stated "I have the controls" on two different occasions. The student pilot did not understand the flight instructor, which resulted in the two pilots "fighting" over the flight controls. The airplane subsequently exited the runway and struck a ditch, damaging the right wing. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72EB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N72EB), registered now, S/N 1211-95 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCBC (No Series) - 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 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 5468 - Engines: Lycoming O320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2020 - Departed: AXH, Houston, TX - Destination: AXH, Houston, TX - Airport: AXH, Houston-Southwest, runway 27, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 31, 2020; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 25,624 total, 3,127 in this make and model, 24,800 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 62; injuries: none; student; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: KAXH ## 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 20200714011489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200714011489A), Jul 14, 2020: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Arcola, TX, Substantial damage. According to the flight instructor, after the student pilot touched down on runway 27 with a good landing, the aircraft started to veer to the right. Then, the… ## 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 CEN10CA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA328), Jun 16, 2010: American Champion 7GCBC (N72EB), Arcola, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the landing roll. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101601. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Student Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo of Airplane (item 3, .PDF, 176 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20Airplane-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.