# NTSB GAA15CA017: American Champion 7GCAA, N43MT, Greensboro, NC, March 18, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 18, 2015, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Greensboro, NC - Coordinates: 36.171665, -79.805 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1717&lon=-79.8050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 90917 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90917/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90917 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA017 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional/pitch control during final approach, resulting in a collision with terrain. ## 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: [American Champion 7GCAA, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/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: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was practicing touch-and-go landings. On his third landing he encountered what he believed was wind variable at 350 degrees to 040 degrees about 15 feet above the ground which lifted the airplane's left wing upward, the tail wheel struck a marker cone while on the final approach. Subsequently the right wing came in contact with the ground which resulted in damage to the right wing spar and right aileron. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was practicing touch-and-go landings. On his third landing he encountered what he believed was wind variable at 350 degrees to 040 degrees about 15 feet above the ground which lifted the airplane's left wing upward, the tail wheel struck a marker cone while on the final approach. Subsequently the right wing came in contact with the ground which resulted in damage to the right wing spar and right aileron. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43MT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43MT), registered now, S/N 402-98, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCAA (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [American Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcaa) (registry code 2121002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402-98 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 1420.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Echo Tango LLC - Registered owner: Echo Tango LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 17, 2014, 50 hours before - Departed: W88, Greensboro, NC - Destination: W88, Greensboro, NC - Airport: W88, Air Harbor, runway 09, 2,460 × 65 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 31, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 498 total, 320 in this make and model, 430 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 67; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review September 19, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 25 in this make and model, 2,400 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KGSO, 8 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 20150318004829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150318004829A), Mar 18, 2015: American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA, Greensboro, NC, Substantial damage. Before touchdown a gusty crosswind from the left lifted the left wing resulting in the aircraft striking the ground on the right side. The right wing spar was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90917. 392 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426699&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot Rated Passenger (item 2, .PDF, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426700&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot%20Rated%20Passenger-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426703&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Right Wing Spar Damage (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Right%20Wing%20Spar%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Right Wing Spar Damage (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 5, .PDF, 34 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426702&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20Wing%20Spar%20Damage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.