# NTSB ERA09CA553: Champion 7GCAA, N1879G, Ware, MA, June 27, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 27, 2009, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Ware, MA - Coordinates: 42.281944, -72.214721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2819&lon=-72.2147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76287 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA553 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76287/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76287 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA553 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=21101N8), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7GCAA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=21101N8), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101N8), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that an annual inspection of the airplane had just been completed and that he was flying the airplane from that location to his home airstrip. The wind was on the nose of the airplane and as he approached the runway for a full stop landing, his approach speed was 55 mph. When the airplane was approximately 1 foot above the runway for a three point landing, the airspeed decreased and the nose dropped. The propeller contacted the soft ground and the airplane nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer and right wing lift struts. The pilot reported that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane that caused the accident to occur. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that an annual inspection of the airplane had just been completed and that he was flying the airplane from that location to his home airstrip. The wind was on the nose of the airplane and as he approached the runway for a full stop landing, his approach speed was 55 mph. When the airplane was approximately 1 foot above the runway for a three point landing, the airspeed decreased and the nose dropped. The propeller contacted the soft ground and the airplane nosed over, damaging the vertical stabilizer and right wing lift struts. The pilot reported that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane that caused the accident to occur. The pilot did not report the accident to NTSB. An individual attempting to purchase the airplane noted the damage and alerted the Federal Aviation Administration, who in turn notified NTSB on June 10, 2010. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1879G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1879G-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N 65, built 1968 (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: 65 - Airframe hours: 1464 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard C. O'Riley - Registered owner: Mucha Colleen M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 27, 2009 - Departed: 0B5, Montague, MA - Destination: MA53, Ware, MA - Airport: MA53, Ware Airport, runway 20, 2,030 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2007; flight hours: 946 total, 200 in this make and model, 946 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: ORH, 15 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 20090627857209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090627857209A), Jun 27, 2009: Champion 7GCAA, Ware, MA, Substantial damage. 06/03/2010PER the pilot, [privacy data omitted] on 27 June 2009 at 1300 hrs I was flying back from turners falls airport (OB5), after a fresh annual and I was… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76287. 969 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 840 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331937&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331582&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF 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.