# NTSB DEN08CA043: Champion 7GCAA, N8305V, Gallup, NM, December 23, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 22, 2007, 17:55 local (Dec 23, 2007, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Gallup, NM - Coordinates: 35.500831, -108.783889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5008&lon=-108.7839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Stanards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67293 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67293/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08CA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's premature landing flare and an inadvertent stall/mush. A contributing factor is pilot's lack of recent night experience. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - premature, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the night landing he flared too high, the airplane stalled, and impacted the runway with the nose canted to the right. He said that he added power in attempt to straighten the airplane, but the airplane departed the runway to the right, traveled through a ditch and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane systems. He stated he was not night current, and did not hold a valid medical certificate. ## Factual narrative According to a telephone conversation with the pilot, during the night landing to runway 06 (7,316 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) he flared too high and the airplane "stalled." The airplane impacted the runway with the nose "canted to the right." The pilot reported that he added power in attempt to straighten the airplane. The airplane departed the runway to the right. The airplane traveled through a ditch and nosed over. Both wings were bent down and aft, the firewall wrinkled, and the vertical stabilizer crushed down. The pilot reported no anomalies with the airplane systems. The pilot reported he was not night current and did not hold a valid medical certificate. Despite several requests, the pilot did not complete and submit an Aircraft Accident Investigation Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8305V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8305V), registered now, S/N 98, 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: 98 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: CDC, CEDAR CITY, UT - Destination: GUP, Gallup, NM - Airport: GUP, Gallup Municipal, runway 6, 7,316 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; flight hours: 5 total, 5 in this make and model, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: KGUP, 1 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 20071223830569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071223830569A), Dec 23, 2007: Bbavia 7GCAA, Gallup, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On December 22, 2007 at approximately 1755 local time, N8305V, a champion model 7GCAA (citabria) airplane, serial number 98, made a hard landing on… ## Other investigations on N8305V (3) 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 GAA15CA188](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA188), Jul 15, 2015: Champion 7GCAA (N8305V), Kingsland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain pitch attitude which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, hard landing and a loss of directional control. - [NTSB SEA76FYA07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA76FYA07), Jul 26, 1975: Champion 7GCAA (N8305V), Boise, ID, substantial damage - [NTSB FTW68F0182](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW68F0182), Jul 29, 1967: Champion 7GCAA (N8305V), Wildorado, 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.