# NTSB GAA18CA025: Champion 7GC, N7589E, Gerlach, NV, October 21, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 21, 2017, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Gerlach, NV
- Coordinates: 40.761665, -119.211944 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7617&lon=-119.2119&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 February 21, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA/ FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96248
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA025
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96248/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96248
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA025

## Probable cause

The pilot's incorrect pitch control during the landing roll in shifting wind conditions, 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 7GC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7GC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101N2), [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 7GC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101N2), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a wheel landing, the wind shifted from a crosswind to a quartering tailwind. He further reported that he applied full aft elevator but lost control of the pitch when the wind shifted, and the airplane nosed over about 5 to 10 knots groundspeed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.

## Factual narrative

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge, the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during a wheel landing, the wind shifted from a crosswind to a quartering tailwind. He further reported that, he had full aft elevator applied, but lost control of the pitch when the wind shifted, and the airplane nosed over about 5 to 10 knots groundspeed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7589E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7589E-2019-04-16), registration cancelled 2019-04-16, S/N 7GC-23, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GC (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Champion 7GC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gc) (registry code 21101N2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7GC-23
- Year built: 1958
- Engines: Lycoming O-290 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Destination: 88NV, Gerlach, NV
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 88NV, Black Rock City
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Observed at: NONE

## 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 20171021024109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171021024109A), Oct 21, 2017: Champion 7GC, Gerlach, NV, Substantial damage. Block 16: in 2009, the O-290-D2B series engine was removed and the O-320-B2B series engine was installed. Block 25: winds was reported as a 15-20 knots…

## Other investigations on N7589E (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 ANC76DAH23](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAH23), Jun 15, 1976: Champion 7GC (N7589E), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 25, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96248. 265 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 1, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459537&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459538&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.