# NTSB CHI99LA080: Champion 7GCAA, N9668S, Alliance, NE, January 31, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 31, 1999, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Alliance, NE - Coordinates: 42.100044, -102.869247 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1000&lon=-102.8692&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45688 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45688/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA080 ## Probable cause the unsuitable terrain for landing selected by the pilot-in-command. Factors were the tailwind landing condition and excessive braking by the pilot-in-command. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot flew over a friend's house and decided to land in a field adjacent to the house. The pilot stated that upon landing, on the plowed farm field, he, '... proceeded to get on the brakes and there was just no grabbing between the tires and the dirt field.' The pilot stated that he applied more brakes, and, '... all of the sudden, the tail came up and the airplane nosed over and flipped onto its back.' In a telephone interview with the pilot, the pilot stated that the landing was made to the north. Post accident investigation showed that there was substantial damage to three wing ribs, two wing struts, and the vertical stabilizer. A functional test of the brake system was conducted and no abnormalities were found. No other abnormalities were found with the accident airplane. Weather reports for the area reported winds from 150 degrees at 8 knots. ## Factual narrative On January 31, 1999, at 1630 mountain standard time, a Champion 7GCAA, N9668S, operated by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during landing roll near Alliance, NE. The personal flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Alliance Municipal Airport, at time 1615, for a local flight. According to the pilot's written statement, the pilot flew over a friend's house and decided to land in a field adjacent to the house. The pilot stated that upon landing, on the plowed farm field, he, "... proceeded to get on the brakes and there was just no grabbing between the tires and the dirt field." The pilot stated that he applied more brakes, and, "... all of the sudden, the tail came up and the airplane nosed over and flipped onto its back." In a telephone interview with the pilot, the pilot stated that the landing was made to the north. Post accident investigation showed that there was substantial damage to three wing ribs, two wing struts, and the vertical stabilizer. A functional test of the brake system was conducted and no abnormalities were found. No other abnormalities were found with the accident airplane. Weather reports for the area reported winds from 150 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9668S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9668S), registered now, S/N 85, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCAA - Registry model: [Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcaa) (registry code 21101N8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 85 - Airframe hours: 1391 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Heartland Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 4, 1998, 6 hours before - Departed: AIA, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 536 total, 7 in this make and model, 54 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AIA, 5 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 19990131000979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990131000979A), Jan 31, 1999: Bbavia 7GCAA, Alliance, NE, Substantial damage. Acft nose over and came to rest upside down while attempting to land in a field for unknown reasons. Other circumstances are unknown. (.4) the pilot flew over… 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.