# NTSB CHI07CA155: Champion 7EC, N9904Y, Sioux Falls, SD, May 25, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 25, 2007, 08:10 local (13:10 UTC) - Place: Sioux Falls, SD - Coordinates: 43.58139, -96.741668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5814&lon=-96.7417&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Rapid City, SD FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65855/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and the excessive pull-up during the initial takeoff climb which resulted in the stall. A factor associated with the accident was the crosswind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane impacted the terrain following a loss of control of takeoff. The accident occurred on the pilot's 1,000 foot long private grass airstrip. The pilot reported that the winds were calm when he landed approximately one hour prior to the accident. He stated he checked the windsock prior to takeoff and it was indicating that the winds had increased and there was a left crosswind. The pilot reported the wind at the south end of the runway was stronger than what the wind sock was indicating, and the airplane veered to the right on takeoff because he "...did not correct adequately for the wind." The pilot reported that his altitude was lower than normal and he pulled up to avoid a fence at the end of the property. He stated the airplane stalled and the nose dropped. The airplane impacted the terrain and came to rest about 60 feet from the right side of the airstrip. ## Factual narrative On May 25, 2007, at 0810 central daylight time, a Champion 7EC, N9904Y, collided with the terrain following a loss of control during takeoff from a private airstrip in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with a destination of Pipestone, South Dakota. The accident occurred on the pilot's 1,000 foot long private grass airstrip. The pilot reported that the winds were calm when he landed approximately one hour prior to the accident. He stated he checked the windsock prior to takeoff and it was indicating that the winds had increased and there was a left crosswind. The pilot reported the wind at the south end of the runway was stronger than what the wind sock was indicating, and the airplane veered to the right on takeoff because he "...did not correct adequately for the wind." The pilot reported that his altitude was lower than normal and he pulled up to avoid a fence at the end of the property. He stated the airplane stalled and the nose dropped. The airplane impacted the terrain and came to rest about 60 feet from the right side of the airstrip. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9904Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9904Y-2010-07-30), registration cancelled 2010-07-30, S/N 7EC-755, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7EC - Registry model: [Champion 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ec) (registry code 21101NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7EC-755 - Engines: Continental C90-12F reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Alan W. Amdahl - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PVT, Sioux Falls, SD - Destination: PQN, Pipestine, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,100 total, 27 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg ## 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 20070525020189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070525020189A), May 25, 2007: Bbavia 7EC, Sioux Falls, SD, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 25, 2007 at 8:10 am CDT a champ 7EC owned by great planes aviation llp and operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] was taking off from a… ## Other investigations on N9904Y (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 CHI67D0205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67D0205), May 16, 1966: Champion 7EC (N9904Y), Urbana, IL, 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.