- Date
- October 15, 1999, 19:05 local (23:05 UTC)
- Place
- Grand Ledge, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8353VChampion 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19991015030679A
- Case key
- 47571
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind and the tree which the airplane contacted.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot made two touch and go landings on runway 18, prior to landing on runway 27. He said the southerly wind had decreased and he kept the '...wing lowered...' during the approach. The airplane touched down 'lightly' and 'floated' for about 100 feet when a gust of wind from 170 degrees caused the airplane to weather-vane to a heading 45 degrees from the runway. The pilot attempted remedial action, but the airplane departed the south side of the runway into the grass where the right wing contacted and tree and the right main gear collapsed. Winds reported 10 minutes prior to the accident at an airport 8 miles east of the accident airport were from 170 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 19 knots.
Factual narrative
On October 15, 1999, at 1905 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N8353V, collided with a tree following a loss of control during a landing roll on runway 27 (3,200' x 75', asphalt) at the Abrams Municipal Airport, Grand Ledge, Michigan. The private pilot was not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The 14 CFR Part 91 local flight originated from Grand Ledge, Michigan, at 1855 edt.
The pilot reported he made two touch and go landings on runway 18, turf, prior to landing on runway 27. He said the southerly wind had decreased and he kept the "...wing lowered..." during the approach. He reported the airplane touched down "lightly" and "floated" for about 100 feet when a gust of wind from 170 degrees caused the airplane to weather-vane to a heading 45 degrees from the runway. The pilot reported he applied throttle and right rudder, but the airplane departed the south side of the runway into the grass. He reported he applied brakes; however, the right wing of the airplane contacted a tree which was located approximately 75 feet off the side of the runway. The right main gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest in the grass.
The winds reported at the Capital City Airport, Lansing, Michigan, at 1855 edt, were from 170 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 19 knots. At 1955 edt, the winds were reported as being from 170 degrees at 12 knots. The Capital City Airport is located approximately 8 miles east of the Abrams Municipal Airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8353V
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 294
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Norbert O. Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 25, 1998
- Departed
- 4D0
- Destination
- 4D0
- Airport
- 4D0 · Abrams Municipal, runway 27, 3,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 70
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 550 total · 300 in this make and model · 500 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 170° at 10 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LAN, 8 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.