- Date
- May 11, 2018, 19:00 local (May 12, 2018, 00:00 UTC)
- Place
- Morrilton, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N6333NChampion 7ECA
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 24, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180511007709A
- Case key
- 97248
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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control in variable crosswind conditions.
Findings · 4
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 pilot reported that, while landing to the west with a southwest crosswind, the airplane bounced and veered left, exited the runway, and ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported that the wind was variable from the northwest at 10 to 15 knots. The airplane landed on runway 27.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, while landing to the west with a southwest crosswind, the airplane bounced and veered left, exited the runway, and ground looped to the left. The right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported that the wind was variable from the northwest at 10 to 15 knots. The airplane landed on runway 27.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6333N
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 497
- Built
- 1967
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 5, 2017
- Departed
- AR88 · Conway, AR
- Destination
- BDQ · Morrilton, AR
- Airport
- BDQ · Morrilton Muni, runway 27, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 26, 2017
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,045 total · 46.5 in this make and model · 970 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days · 0.5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KRUE, 20 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 14, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 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 N6333N · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.