# NTSB ERA10CA269: American Champion 7GCBC, N720AC, Glens Falls, NY, May 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2010, 09:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: Glens Falls, NY - Coordinates: 43.309246, -73.639518 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3092&lon=-73.6395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76037 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA269 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76037/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76037 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA269 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a takeoff attempt. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct touch and go landings on a north-oriented grass runway. After the first landing, he "misjudged the remaining takeoff distance" and was "a bit slow while trying to get airborne." As the airplane lifted off, it encountered a "gust" of wind from the left, then drifted to the right, contacted the runway, and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The automated weather report at the accident airport reported winds from 330 degrees at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct touch-and-go landings on a north-oriented grass runway. After the first landing, he "misjudged the remaining takeoff distance" and was "a bit slow while trying to get airborne." As the airplane lifted off, it encountered a "gust" of wind from the left, then drifted to the right, contacted the runway, and nosed over. The airplane came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing spar and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The automated weather report at the accident airport reported winds from 330 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N720AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N720AC), registered now, S/N 1270-99, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1270-99 - Airframe hours: 522 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Esmi Flight Services LLC - Registered owner: Esmi Flight Services LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2009 - Departed: GFL, Glen Falls, NY - Destination: GFL, Glen Falls, NY - Airport: GFL, Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport, runway 01, 2,200 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 1,175 total, 193 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,400 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GFL ## 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 20100515034639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100515034639A), May 15, 2010: American Ch 7GCBC, Glens Falls, NY, Substantial damage. Pilot landed long on an approved grass landing area next to and parallel with runway 1. Because of another airplane on the "base leg" for the grass landing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76037. 502 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 482 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331131&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.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.