# NTSB ERA21LA058: Champion 7FC, N7596B, Georgetown, DE, November 28, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 28, 2020, 11:43 local (16:43 UTC)
- Place: Georgetown, DE · On Airport - East of Runway 4
- Coordinates: 38.686587, -75.360774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6866&lon=-75.3608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA058
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102353/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102353
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA058

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while on landing in gusting crosswind conditions.

## 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: [Champion 7FC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 7FC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101NX), [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.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While about 10 feet above the runway during landing, the airplane was struck by a gust of wind that pushed it to the right of the runway centerline while banking it to the right. The pilot responded by applying left rudder and full engine power to initiate a go-around. The airplane continued to descend, and the right wing impacted the ground, substantially damaging it. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7596B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7596B), registered now, S/N 7FC-94, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7FC
- Registry model: [Champion 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (registry code 21101NX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7FC-94
- Year built: 1957
- Engines: Continental C90-12 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LNS, Lancaster, PA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: GED, Delaware Coastal Airport, runway 4, 5,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 6,302 total, 359 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: KGED
- METAR: KGED 281654Z AUTO 28006G16KT 10SM CLR 15/05 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP169 T01500050 $

## 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 20201128018869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201128018869A), Nov 28, 2020: Champion 7FC, Georgetown, DE, Substantial damage. The pilot elected to land on runway 4 at ged believing this was the correct runway regarding winds. Winds were actually 280 6 KTS gusting to 16 and runway 28…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 18, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102353. 4.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11695728&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Recd%2012%201%202020_ERA21LA058_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of NTSB conversations (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11756364&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20NTSB%20Conversations_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11700446&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Weather reports and records (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11706330&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Rel.pdf
- Partial transcription of communications (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11713403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Partial%20Transcription%20of%20Communications_ERA21LA058-Rel.pdf
- Audio file from liveatc. Net for recorded transmissions at kged airport starting 1130 EST (item 6, MP3, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11714147&FileExtension=mp3&FileName=KGED2-CTAF-Nov-28-2020-1630Z-Rel.mp3
- Investigative photographs (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 478 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11726030&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.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.

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