# NTSB GAA17CA115: American Champion 7GCAA, N2540F, Bainbridge, GA, January 16, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 16, 2017, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Bainbridge, GA - Coordinates: 30.971666, -84.636947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9717&lon=-84.6369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94622 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94622/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94622 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA115 ## Probable cause The student pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and his subsequent loss of directional control after touchdown. ## 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: [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) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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) ## Analysis The solo student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he had completed five touch-and-go landings and maneuvers in the local area before returning for a full-stop landing. While on final approach about 50 ft above ground, he reduced throttle to idle and allowed the airspeed to slow, and the left wing dropped abruptly. The left main landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane veered to the left into grass, and it then nosed over. The left wing lift strut and the rudder sustained substantial damage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he had completed five touch-and-go landings and maneuvers in the local area before returning for a full stop landing. He reported that while on final approach about 50 feet above ground, he reduced throttle to idle, allowed the airspeed to slow, and the left wing dropped abruptly. The left main landing gear touched down on the runway, the airplane veered to the left into grass, and nosed over. The left wing lift strut and the rudder sustained substantial damage. The student pilot did not report any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The student pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2540F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2540F), registered now, S/N 96, built 1965 (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: 96 - Year built: 1965 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: AG Flight Pilot Training - Registered owner: Howell, William F. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BGE, BAINBRIDGE, GA - Destination: BGE, BAINBRIDGE, GA - Airport: BGE, Decatur County Industrial Air, runway 09, 5,502 × 149 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: KBGE ## 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 20170116000509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170116000509A), Jan 16, 2017: American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA, Bainbridge, GA, Substantial damage. On 01/16/2017 at approximately 0900 local time, the student pilot of American champion N2540F attempted to land at Decatur county airport, Bainbridge, GA. At… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94622. 648 KB in all. - Student Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449879&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 226 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40449880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.