- Date
- September 24, 1996, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fargo, ND
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N68MEChampion 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 23, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960924029749A
- Case key
- 10399
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 failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing. A factor was the crosswind.
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 stated that while making a 3-point landing on runway 13 there was a tailwheel shimmy and vibration. He stated the airplane bounced and weathervaned to the right. He applied left rudder but the airplane continued off the right side of the runway. The airplane contacted a runway light along the side of the runway. A 70-degree left crosswind of 8 knots was reported shortly after the accident.
Factual narrative
On September 24, 1996, at 0930 central daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N68ME, collided with a runway light while landing on runway 13 at the Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operation in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The local flight originated from the Hector International Airport at 0830 cdt.
The pilot stated he made a normal approach to a 3 point landing. He stated there was a vibration and shimmy of the tailwheel and the airplane experienced a "slight" bounce during which it weathervaned to the right. The pilot stated he applied left rudder but the airplane continued across the runway where it contacted a runway light damaging the left elevator and wingtip.
Local winds reported after the accident were from 210 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N68ME
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 625
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Victor L. Gelking
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- FAR
- Destination
- FAR
- Airport
- FAR · Hector Int'L, runway 13, 4,199 × 150 ft, macadam
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
- 69
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 966 total · 10 in this make and model · 870 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FAR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.