# NTSB GAA18CA120: American Champion 7GCBC, N519AC, Santa Paula, CA, February 2, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 2, 2018, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place: Santa Paula, CA
- Coordinates: 34.345554, -119.063056 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3456&lon=-119.0631&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 April 23, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 96712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96712/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96712
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA120

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing due to being distracted by another airplane and her delayed initiation of a go-around, during which the right wing struck a parked helicopter.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, she became distracted by another airplane performing a touch-and-go, and upon touchdown, the airplane veered to the right. She added full power to go around, but the airplane continued to the right as it became airborne, and the right wing struck a parked helicopter. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the tops of bushes and came to rest inverted in an adjacent riverbed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, during landing, she became distracted by another airplane performing a touch-and-go and, upon touchdown, her airplane veered to the right. She added full power to go around, but the airplane continued to the right as it became airborne and the right wing struck a parked helicopter. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the tops of bushes and came to rest inverted in an adjacent riverbed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N519AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N519AC), registered now, S/N 1295-2000, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1295-2000
- Year built: 2000
- Airframe hours: 1052.4
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2017
- Departed: SZP, SANTA PAULA, CA
- Destination: SZP, Santa Paula, CA
- Airport: SZP, Santa Paula, runway 04, 2,713 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2017; seat: front; flight hours: 1,131.8 total, 9.8 in this make and model, 994 as pilot in command, 15.1 in the last 90 days, 9.8 in the last 30 days, 0.8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: KSZP, 1 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 20180202000079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180202000079A), Feb 2, 2018: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Santa Paula, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed Santa Paula Airport (szp), Santa Paula, CA, at 1030 PST. Pilot was on a personal flight, with one passenger on board. Pilot reported that…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96712. 4.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 921 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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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