# NTSB ERA10CA271: Champion 7BCM, N1415E, Kingston, TN, May 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2010, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Kingston, TN - Coordinates: 35.823612, -84.538612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8236&lon=-84.5386&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA271 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76046/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76046 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA271 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Champion 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=21101MA), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=21101MA), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101MA), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had not landed at the destination airport “in several years.” Although the airport had a paved runway, the pilot preferred to land on grass rather than pavement. Since he had landed on the grassy area adjacent to the left side of the runway during his previous visit, he decided to land on it once again. From the air, “it looked good," so he proceeded to land. During the landing, he realized that the grass was not mowed and was "over waist deep." Upon touch down, the main landing gear caught the grass, the airplane nosed over, and the pilot sustained a fractured vertebrae. For grass operations, the airport had been using the mowed area to the right side of the runway. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he had not landed at the destination airport “in several years.” Although the airport had a paved runway, the pilot preferred to land on grass rather than pavement. Since he had landed on the grassy area adjacent to the left side of the runway during his previous visit, he decided to land on it once again. From the air, “it looked good," so he proceeded to land. During the landing, he realized that the grass was not mowed and was "over waist deep." Upon touch down, the main landing gear caught the grass, the airplane nosed over, and the pilot sustained a fractured vertebrae. For grass operations, the airport had been using the mowed area to the right side of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1415E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1415E), registered now, S/N 7AC-4978, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7BCM - Registry model: [Champion 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ac) (registry code 21101MA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-4978 - Airframe hours: 1878 - Engines: Continental C-85-8F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2009 - Departed: TN98, Knoxville, TN - Destination: 12TN, Kingston, TN - Airport: 12TN, Riley Creek Airport, runway 23L, 2,606 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: serious; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 16, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,061 total, 182 in this make and model, 881 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: OQT, 19 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 20100515034099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100515034099A), May 15, 2010: Champion 7AC, Kingston, TN, Minor damage. Pilot attempted to land on grass next to runway. Grass had not been mowed in some time. On touch down airplane flipped on its back. Top of rudder bent, left… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76046. 655 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331521&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record: Phone Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 42 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20Phone%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (KOQT METARs) (item 3, .PDF, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records%20(KOQT%20METARs)-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.