# NTSB LAX97LA267: Champion 7GCBC, N8333V, San Jose, CA, July 26, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1997, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: San Jose, CA
- Coordinates: 37.330375, -121.829147 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3304&lon=-121.8291&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29858
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA267
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29858/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA267

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, and excessive remedial action, which resulted in an inadvertent swerve off the runway.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - remedial action - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - sign
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

The pilot's touchdown and initial rollout were uneventful. The pilot reported that he had the airplane trimmed 'all the way back,' and he applied brakes.  The airplane veered off the runway, collided with an airport sign, nosed over, and came to rest in a dirt clearing adjacent to the runway.  The pilot indicated that during the landing he had 'over corrected' which resulted in his loss of control as the airplane drifted left.  The surface wind was calm.

## Factual narrative

On July 26, 1997, at 1330 hours Pacific daylight time, a Champion 7GCBC, N8333V, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with an airport sign while landing on runway 31R at the Reid Hillview of Santa Clara County Airport, San Jose, California.  The pilot reported that he had the airplane trimmed "all the way back," and he applied brakes.  The airplane veered off the runway, collided with the sign, and came to rest in a dirt clearing adjacent to the runway.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed.  The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private pilot was not injured.  The flight originated from San Jose at 1300.

In the pilot's completed report he indicated that no mechanical problems were experienced during the accident flight.  The pilot further reported that during the landing he "over corrected" and the airplane drifted left.  After colliding with the sign the airplane nosed over.  At the time, the surface wind was calm.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8333V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8333V-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 63, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Champion 7GCBC
- Registry model: [Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 63
- Airframe hours: 1320
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Fred F. Schurpf
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 1997, 30 hours before
- Departed: SJC
- Destination: RHV
- Airport: RHV, Reid Hillview, runway 31R, 3,101 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,000 total, 300 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: RHV

## 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 19970726020889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970726020889A), Jul 26, 1997: Bbavia 7GCBC, San Jose, CA, Substantial damage. Aircrft nosed over on landing.

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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