- Date
- November 22, 1998, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Aurora, CO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9632SChampion 7GCAA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19981122045079A
- Case key
- 45348
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the gusty crosswind and terrain.
Analysis
The pilot landed on runway 32 (4,687 ft. X 38 ft., asphalt) with a right 'gusty' crosswind. After touch down, the tail wheel began to 'shimmy.' The pilot said he pushed the control stick forward to relieve pressure on the tail wheel. He said a gust of wind then caused the airplane and weather vane sharply to the right. The airplane collided with terrain and nosed over.
Factual narrative
On November 22, 1998, approximately 1330 mountain standard time, a Champion 7GCAA, N9632S, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during landing roll at Aurora Airpark, Aurora, Colorado. The private pilot, the sole occupant aboard, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated at Calhan Airport approximately 40 minutes before the accident.
According to the pilot's accident report, he landed on runway 32 (4,687 ft. X 38 ft., asphalt) with a right "gusty" crosswind. After touch down, the tail wheel began to "shimmy." The pilot said he pushed the control stick forward to relieve pressure on the tail wheel. He said a gust of wind then caused the airplane to weather vane sharply to the right. The airplane collided with terrain and nosed over. All four spars and three struts were substantially damaged, as well as the fabric wings and propeller.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9632S
- Reported as
- Champion 7GCAA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 60
- Airframe hours
- 2,645
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William A. Yribia
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 9, 1998 · 135 hours before
- Departed
- 5V4 · Calhan, CO
- Destination
- 0IV · CO
- Airport
- 01V · Aurora Airpark, runway 32, 4,687 × 38 ft, asphalt
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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 414 total · 230 in this make and model · 240 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BKF, 7 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.
Other investigations on N9632S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.