- Date
- April 15, 1995, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Paragould, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4842EChampion 7GC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950415048889A
- Case key
- 19396
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control, resulting in an inadvertent groundloop. A factor was the instructor's inadequate supervision.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
As the student pilot initiated the takeoff roll on runway 22, the airplane groundlooped to the left. The flight instructor attempted an unsuccessful recovery and the airplane departed the runway and struck a ditch. Structural damage occurred to the right wing and gear. The wind was from 180 degrees at 10 knots. The pilot's report indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions.
Factual narrative
On April 15, 1995, at 1100 central daylight time, a Champion 7GC, N4842E, was substantially damaged during the takeoff roll at Paragould, Arkansas. The airline transport rated pilot/flight instructor and the student pilot did not receive injuries. The instructional flight was operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and originated in Jonesboro, Arkansas, at 0930. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed with winds from 180 degrees at 10 knots, and a flight plan was not filed.
The flight instructor reported that as the student initiated the takeoff roll, the speed of the airplane increased, the tailwheel came off the runway, and the airplane "swang sharply to the left, like the left brake was pushed." The flight instructor reduced the power, brought the tailwheel back to the ground, and applied aft control stick. The airplane departed the left side of runway 22 and the right main wheel hit a ditch before the airplane came to rest. Structural damage occurred to the right wing, right main gear, and tail wheel. The enclosed Pilot/Operator report disclosed that the flight instructor had accumulated a total of five hours in this make and model. The report also indicated that there was no mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4842E
- Reported as
- Champion 7GC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7GC-42
- Airframe hours
- 2,920
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-D2B, 135 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Vester E. Spencer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 10, 1995 · 3 hours before
- Departed
- JBR · Jonesboro, AR
- Destination
- PGR
- Airport
- PGR · Kirk Field, runway 22, 3,798 × 60 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total · 5 in this make and model · 6,800 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.