# NTSB CHI06CA104: American Champion 7GCBC, N1856G, Tower, MN, March 25, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 25, 2006, 11:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place: Tower, MN
- Coordinates: 47.810001, -92.290557
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8100&lon=-92.2906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 31, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63530
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63530/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA104

## Probable cause

The unsuitable landing area selected by the pilot which led to the subsequent nose-over.  The terrain condition was a factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - other (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The airplane was damaged when it nosed over while landing on a frozen lake.  The pilot reported that while landing on ice and packed snow, the left main landing wheel broke through a hole in the ice and the airplane  turned to the left and then nosed over.  The pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On March 25, 2006, about 1130 central standard time, an American Champion 7GCBC, N1856G, piloted by a private pilot was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing on a frozen lake near Tower, Minnesota.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The pilot was not injured.  The flight originated from the Eveleth-Virginia Municipal Airport, Eveleth, Minnesota about 1100.

The pilot reported that while landing on ice and packed snow, the left main landing wheel broke through a hole in the ice and the airplane  turned to the left and then nosed over.  The pilot listed no mechanical malfunctions of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1856G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1856G), registered now, S/N 12 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: American Champion 7GCBC
- Registry model: [Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 12
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: EVM, EVELETH, MN
- Destination: Tower, MN

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,639 total, 1,639 in this make and model, 1,639 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20060325005079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060325005079A), Mar 25, 2006: Bbavia 7GCBC, Tower, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) On 3-25-2006, at 1100 local time, N1856G, piloted by [privacy data omitted] departed eveleth, MN. And attempted to land on lake vermillion at Tower, MN.…

## Other investigations on N1856G (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 CHI86LA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86LA080), Jan 29, 1986: Champion Citabria 7GCBC (N1856G), Ely, MN, 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.

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