# NTSB ERA14CA267: Champion Aeronca 7AC, N82206, Port Gibson, MS, April 19, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 19, 2014, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Port Gibson, MS - Coordinates: 31.960556, -90.981941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9606&lon=-90.9819&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89309/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89309 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA267 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was sun glare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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 AERONCA 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion AERONCA 7AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion AERONCA 7AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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 AERONCA 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2110140), [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 AERONCA 7AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Champion AERONCA 7AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2110140), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing to the west, on a private, grass airstrip. He stated that as the airplane touched down, he became blinded by the setting sun that was located low on the horizon. The airplane subsequently veered to the right into a tree line, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the right main landing gear. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Winds reported an airport that was located about 30 miles north of the accident site, around the time of the accident, were from 360 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing to the west, on a private, grass airstrip. He stated that as the airplane touched down, he became blinded by the setting sun that was located low on the horizon. The airplane subsequently veered to the right into a tree line, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the right main landing gear. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Winds reported an airport that was located about 30 miles north of the accident site, around the time of the accident, were from 360 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82206](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82206), registered now, S/N 7AC-834, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION AERONCA 7AC - Registry model: [Champion AERONCA 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110140) (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-834 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 3082 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 2013, 10 hours before - Departed: 9LS5, Tallulah, LA - Destination: NONE, Port Gibson, MS - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 27, 2,600 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2013; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 18,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 18,400 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: TVR, 27 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 20140419007379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140419007379A), Apr 19, 2014: Champion AERONCA 7AC, Port Gibson, MS, Minor damage. The pilot stated he was landing on a private runway, east to west, when the glare of the sun made him veer off runway. The right wing struck an object, spun… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89309. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 458 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 200 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Airport Weather Observations (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414055&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Weather%20Observations-Master.PDF - Photo Descriptions (item 4, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Descriptions-Master.PDF - Photos Provided by FAA in PDF (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20Provided%20by%20FAA%20in%20PDF-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.