# NTSB GAA15CA006: Champion 7EC, N8905R, Upland, CA, March 5, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 5, 2015, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Upland, CA
- Coordinates: 34.113334, -117.68222 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1133&lon=-117.6822&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Riverside FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90856
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90856/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90856
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA006

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## 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 · Student/instructed 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)
- [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 7EC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101NM), [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: 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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Champion 7EC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=21101NM), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The certificated pilot was receiving tailwheel instruction and stated he was practicing touch-and-go landings. On his seventh landing, the airplane went to the right of the center line and he overcorrected. The flight instructor took the controls of the airplane. The right wing struck the ground and the airplane departed the runway to the left. The airplane subsequently ground looped which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The certificated pilot was receiving tailwheel instruction and stated he was practicing touch-and-go landings. On his seventh landing, the airplane went to the right of the center line and he overcorrected. The flight instructor took the controls of the airplane. The right wing struck the ground and the airplane departed the runway to the left. The airplane subsequently ground looped which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8905R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8905R-2023-10-21), registration cancelled 2023-10-21, S/N 7EC-712, built 1959 (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: 7EC-712
- Year built: 1953
- Airframe hours: 2295
- Engines: Continental Motors C90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Cable Aircraft Company Inc
- Registered owner: Cable Aircraft Company Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 14, 2014
- Departed: CCB, Upland, CA
- Destination: CCB, Upland, CA
- Airport: CCB, Cable, runway 24, 3,863 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor; age 42; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 10,000 total, 3 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 270 total, 1.5 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KONT, 3 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 20150305003559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150305003559A), Mar 5, 2015: Champion 7EC, Upland, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot in command was CFI seated in rear with student (private pilot) receiving tailwheel training seated in front and at controls. During touchdown while…

## Other investigations on N8905R (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX75FUG47](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX75FUG47), Jun 10, 1975: Aeronca 7EC (N8905R), Corona, CA, substantial damage

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90856. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Flight Instructor) (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Flight%20Instructor)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Right Wing From Side (Photo Courtesy of the Flying Club Owner) (item 4, .PDF, 327 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20Wing%20From%20Side%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20the%20Flying%20Club%20Owner)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Right Wing From Rear (Photo Courtesy of Flying Club Owner) (item 5, .PDF, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20Wing%20From%20Rear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Flying%20Club%20Owner)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3 - Right Wing From Rear (Photo Courtesy of Flying Club Owner) (item 6, .PDF, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Right%20Wing%20From%20Rear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Flying%20Club%20Owner)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4 - Right Wing From Rear (Photo Courtesy of Flying Club Owner) (item 7, .PDF, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Right%20Wing%20From%20Rear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Flying%20Club%20Owner)-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.

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