# NTSB CHI01LA020: Champion 7ECA, N7586F, Pulaski, WI, October 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 21, 2000, 17:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Pulaski, WI - Coordinates: 44.659221, -88.229812 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6592&lon=-88.2298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50528 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50528/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA020 ## Probable cause the evasive maneuver initiated by the pilot. Factors were the presence of the skydiver on the runway, and the pilot's selection of a closed runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, landing - roll - object - other person (contributing factor) - evasive maneuver - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - closed - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when it veered off of a closed grass runway and nosed over. The pilot said that on final approach he noticed a skydiver. He said, "In my judgment it was clear to land on the sod runway as the skydiver was on target over his designated landing spot, well to the left of runway 12. I touched the aircraft down and at that time the skydiver must have turned downwind as he ended up landing in the middle of the runway. I applied my right rudder to avoid a collision with the skydiver. This action resulted in my crossing the paved runway and entering the field. At this point I hit some brush and flipped the aircraft." No anomalies were found with respect to the aircraft that could be associated with a preexisting condition and the pilot reported none. An employee at the airport said that the grass runway was closed at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 21, 2000, at 1705 central daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N7586F, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it veered off of a closed grass runway (about 3,400 feet by 40 feet) that is parallel to runway 12 at the Carter Airport, Pulaski, Wisconsin, and nosed over. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The local flight originated at 1605 cdt. In a written statement, the pilot said that on final approach he noticed a skydiver. He said, "In my judgment it was clear to land on the sod runway as the skydiver was on target over his designated landing spot, well to the left of runway 12. I touched the aircraft down and at that time the skydiver must have turned downwind as he ended up landing in the middle of the runway. I applied my right rudder to avoid a collision with the skydiver. This action resulted in my crossing the paved runway and entering the field. At this point I hit some brush and flipped the aircraft." An employee of the fixed base operator at the Carter Airport stated, in a telephone conversation, that the grass runway parallel to runway 12 was closed at the time of the accident. He said that the runway has been closed since the implementation of an instrument approach to the airport. He also said that the grass runway is approximately 3,400 feet by 40 feet in dimension. No anomalies were found with respect to the aircraft that could be associated with a preexisting condition and the pilot reported none. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7586F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7586F), registered now, S/N 742-70, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (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: 742-70 - Airframe hours: 1802 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blue Skies Aviation Of Wisc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2000, 59 hours before - Departed: 92C - Airport: 92C, Carter Airport, runway 12, 3,400 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 578 total, 19 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 129 °F, dew point 104 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GRB, 10 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 20001021037359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001021037359A), Oct 21, 2000: Bbavia 7ECA, Pulaski, WI, No damage. (-23) Pilot stated he saw a skydiver land on runway 12L (turf). He continued his landing assuming the skydiver would vacate 12L. Pilot stated he had to swerve… ## Other investigations on N7586F (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 FTW79FRA39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FRA39), Sep 2, 1979: Champion 7ECA (N7586F), Houston, TX, substantial damage 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.