# NTSB ERA11CA303: Champion 7EC-703, N61980, Moultonboro, NH, May 1, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2011, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Moultonboro, NH - Coordinates: 43.768333, -71.386665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7683&lon=-71.3867&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 79149 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/79149/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79149 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA303 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing rollout, which resulted in a collision with trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/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: [Champion 7EC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the landing rollout, a strong wind gust caused him to lose directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off of the runway and collided with trees. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing spars. A witness at the airport confirmed the weather anomaly at the time of the accident. The nearest airport's weather observation system reported at the time of the accident that the wind was light and variable. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during landing rollout, a strong wind gust caused him to lose directional control of the airplane. The airplane veered off of the runway and collided with trees. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing spars. A witness at the airport confirmed the weather anomaly at the time of the accident. The nearest airport's weather observation system reported at the time of the accident that the winds were light and variable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61980](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61980), registered now, S/N 7EC-703 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7EC-703 - Registry model: [Champion 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ec) (registry code 21101NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7EC-703 - Airframe hours: 8314 - Engines: Continental C90 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hirschfield Robert J - Registered owner: Hirschfield Robert J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2010, 31 hours before - Departed: LCI, Laconia, NH - Destination: 5M3, Moultonboro, NH - Airport: 5M3, Moultonboro Airport, runway 02, 3,475 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,340 total, 1,575 in this make and model, 22 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: LCI, 11 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 20110501009399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110501009399A), May 1, 2011: Champion 7EC, Moultonborough, NH, Substantial damage. After touchdown, operator was taxiing down runway gust of wind moved the tail to the right causing aircraft to go off runway on left. Both wing tips damaged.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=79149. 23 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348823&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement-Airport owner IA (item 2, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348824&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Airport%20owner%20IA-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence-Pilot statement (item 3, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence-Pilot%20statement-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.