# NTSB IAD96LA134: Champion 7ECA, N2598G, Ashland, VA, August 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 1996, 15:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Ashland, VA - Coordinates: 37.760925, -77.470344 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7609&lon=-77.4703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28099 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD96LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28099/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD96LA134 ## Probable cause an undetermined braking anomaly and/or failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - landing gear,normal brake system - undetermined (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing ## Analysis The pilot stated that the approach and landing were normal, but during the landing roll, the brakes appeared to stick. The airplane veered off the right side of the runway and nosed over in a grassy area adjacent to the runway. During postaccident examination, the airplane rolled freely on its wheels, forward and backward, with no evidence of brake drag. No preimpact mechanical anomaly was found. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 1996, at 1520 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N2598G, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over after veering off the runway during the landing roll at Hanover County Airport, in Ashland, Virginia. The commercial pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The local flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Ashland, Virginia, at approximately 1520. The pilot stated that the landing approach and touchdown were normal, but during the landing roll, the airplane "...began to turn to the right. I applied brakes in an attempt to regain directional control. [The airplane] continued to the right." The airplane departed the right side of the runway and nosed over in the grass adjacent to the runway. The pilot investigators that he did not know what caused the airplane to veer off the runway, but he believed that the brakes stuck during the landing roll. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated that during the postaccident examination of the airplane, he "...untied the aircraft and rolled it both forward and backward with very little effort. The airplane rolled freely with no evidence of brake drag." He stated that there was no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2598G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2598G), registered now, S/N 423, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 423 - Airframe hours: 2685 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Performance Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Stevens, John T. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, June 24, 1996, 90 hours before - Departed: OFP - Airport: OFP, Hanover County Municipal, runway 34, 4,648 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 560 total, 35 in this make and model, 465 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19960811043369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960811043369A), Aug 11, 1996: Bbavia 7ECA, Rchmond/Ashland, VA, Substantial damage. Swerved on three point landing. Over corrected. Exited runway and nosed over. No defects in brake system. 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.