# NTSB ERA12CA204: American Champion 7GCAA, N518F, Bedminster, NJ, March 2, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2012, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Bedminster, NJ - Coordinates: 40.626945, -74.675277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6269&lon=-74.6753&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 14, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA204 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83025/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83025 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA204 ## Probable cause The pilot receiving instruction’s inadvertent movement of the pitch trim control to the nose-down position while attempting a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor stated that he and the pilot receiving instruction were practicing traffic pattern work and had performed two simulated engine failures without incident before the accident. The flight instructor initiated a third simulated engine failure at a higher altitude than the previous two and suggested the pilot receiving instruction perform S-turns to lose altitude. During the maneuver, the airplane descended too low to complete a power-off landing to the runway, and the flight instructor told the pilot receiving instruction to perform a go-around. The flight instructor also reached for the throttle to add full power for the go-around, but the airplane abruptly pitched down and impacted the ground, substantially damaging the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the pitch trim control was in the full forward (nose-down) position. ## Factual narrative In a written statement, the flight instructor stated that he and the pilot were practicing traffic pattern work and had performed two simulated engine failures prior to the accident. The instructor initiated a third simulated engine failure at a higher altitude than the previous two, and he suggested the pilot perform S-turns to lose altitude. While completing the turns to dissipate altitude, the airplane descended too low to complete a power-off landing to the runway. The instructor called for a go-around and attempted to add power, but the airplane pitched down and impacted the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The flight instructor reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor reported that he has had students mistake the pitch trim control for the throttle on past flights and after the accident they found the trim control pushed full forward into the nose down position. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N518F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N518F-2018-02-08), registration cancelled 2018-02-08, S/N 5182009, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCAA - Registry model: [American Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcaa) (registry code 2121002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2b) (registry code 42138, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5182009 - Airframe hours: 273 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cinco de Flyo, LLC - Registered owner: Cinco de Flyo, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 2011 - Departed: SMQ, Bedminster, NJ - Destination: SMQ, Bedminster, NJ - Airport: SMQ, Somerset Airport, runway 30, 2,733 × 65 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 31, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 6,804 total, 360 in this make and model, 6,519 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 152 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: SMQ ## 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 20120302006489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120302006489A), Mar 2, 2012: American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA, Bedminister, NJ, Substantial damage. The flight instructor and private pilot were practicing emergency landings at the sommerset NJ. Airport. The private pilot was in the process of practicing an… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83025. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 518 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - KSMQ Weather Observations (item 2, .PDF, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=KSMQ%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Memorandom of Record: FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365499&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandom%20of%20Record%3A%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane Wreckage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 772 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Wreckage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.