# NTSB ERA21LA060: Champion 7EC, N9721N, Northhampton, NY, November 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 29, 2020, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Northhampton, NY - Coordinates: 43.168477, -74.180464 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1685&lon=-74.1805&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: 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): 102371 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102371/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102371 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control during an off-airport landing on soft sand, which resulted in a nose over. ## 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 7EC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he planned to complete a landing on a gravel/ sand bank along a river. He first completed an approach and a momentary touchdown and subsequently performed a go-around, in effort to evaluate the condition of the landing surface. During the second approach and landing, the airplane touched down on gravel and as the ground roll progressed into soft sand, the airplane slowed considerably, the tail rose, and the airplane nosed over. The windscreen and wing spar sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9721N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9721N), registered now, S/N 661 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7EC (NO SERIES) - 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: 661 - Year built: 1958 - Airframe hours: 3085.5 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2020 - Departed: PTD, Potsdam, NY - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NONE, None - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,056 total, 472 in this make and model, 989 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2.3 in the last 30 days, 2.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KALB, 30 nm away - METAR: KALB 291851Z 15007KT 10SM CLR 08/M03 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP181 T00781028 ## 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 20201129019839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201129019839A), Nov 29, 2020: Champion 7EC, Northampton, NY, Substantial damage. Accident occurred at 11:40AM on 11/29/2020 in 7EC aerona champ N9721N piloted by [privacy data omitted] from canton NY. He departed his home base of potsdam… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102371. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11919914&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120.1%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11920101&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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. --- 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.