- Date
- March 18, 2018, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Ontario, OR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N234RAAmerican Champion 7GCBC
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180318004369A
- Case key
- 96922
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The flight instructor's failure to maintain directional control during landing, in cross wind conditions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The flight instructor reported that, during the last landing of the day, which he performed in crosswind conditions, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced. He added that during the bounce, the airplane rolled right, and the right main landing gear touched down. Subsequently, once both main landing gear were on the runway the airplane veered sharply to the right and he lost directional control. The airplane exited the right side of the runway, the right main landing gear spindle and tire separated from the airplane, and the airplane came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the front spar. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. The flight instructor landed on runway 33.
Factual narrative
The flight instructor reported that, during the last landing of the day, which he performed in crosswind conditions, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced. He added that during the bounce, the airplane rolled right, and the right main landing gear touched down. Subsequently, once both main landing gear were on the runway the airplane veered sharply to the right and he lost directional control. The airplane exited the right side of the runway, the right main landing gear spindle and tire separated from the airplane, and the airplane came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the front spar. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located at the accident airport reported, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 8 knots. The flight instructor landed on runway 33.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N234RA
- Reported as
- American Champion 7GCBC (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1351-2003
- Built
- 2003
- Airframe hours
- 680
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 30, 2017
- Departed
- ONO · Ontario, OR
- Destination
- ONO · Ontario, OR
- Airport
- ONO · Ontario Muni, runway 33, 5,006 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 75
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- BasicMed
- Last flight review
- September 8, 2017
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 3,532 total · 18 in this make and model · 3,378 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 22 total · 9 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.11 inHg
- Observed at
- KONO
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 16, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N234RA · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.