# NTSB CEN24LA171: American Champion 7ECA, N798L, Lakeport, TX, April 15, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 15, 2024, 13:23 local (18:23 UTC)
- Place: Lakeport, TX
- Coordinates: 32.385218, -94.714265 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3852&lon=-94.7143&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- 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: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA171
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194180/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194180
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA171

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.

## 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 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2120003), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2120003), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2120003), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2120003), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [American Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2120003), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [American Champion 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2120003), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that, during the eleventh landing, they did not correct for a decreasing airspeed and stalled the airplane about 5 to 10 ft above the runway surface. The student pilot attempted to correct with throttle; however, the airplane dropped and impacted the runway hard on the right main landing gear followed by a ground swerve to the right then left. The right wing struck the runway which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N798L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N798L), registered now, S/N 1393-2005, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7ECA
- Registry model: [American Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7eca) (registry code 2120003) (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: 1393-2005
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 8257
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-K2C 118 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Letourneau University
- Registered owner: Letourneau University
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 2, 2024
- Airport: KGGG, East Texas Regional, runway 18, 600 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 49; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 388 total, 165 in this make and model, 326 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 20; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 183 total, 81 in this make and model, 17 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft overcast
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KGGG
- METAR: SPECI KGGG 151826Z 17009KT 10SM FEW025 OVC034 25/19 A2993 RMK AO2 T02500194=

## 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 20240415011009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240415011009A), Apr 15, 2024: American Champion Aircraft 7ECA, Longview, TX, Substantial damage. On short final approach during this dual instruction training flight, the instructor allowed the student to slow the aircraft to below the published vref speed…

## Other investigations on N798L (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 CEN25LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA086), Jan 16, 2025: American Champion 7ECA (N798L), Longview, TX, incident, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the lower hinge barrel due to fatigue cracking. Contributing to the failure of the lower hinge barrel was increased stress from end face contact likely associated with worn bushings or…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 27, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194180. 6.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17469174&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 982 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17469343&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - student pilot statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17470694&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=24-04-15%20Personal%20Report%20Signed%20BB%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - flight instructor statement (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 506 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17470538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=24-04-15%20Personal%20Report%20Signed%20RK%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.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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