- Date
- September 1, 2002, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place
- Stow, MA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5091XChampion 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 17, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20020901024299A
- Case key
- 55608
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 improper recover from a bounce landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with a vehicle. A factor in this accident was the crosswind condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was landing the tail-wheeled airplane on runway 3, a 2,770 foot-long, 48 foot-wide, asphalt runway. After touchdown, the airplane began to bounce and veer to the right. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and the pilot applied full power in an attempt to climb; however the airplane struck a car parked in an aircraft tie down area. Winds reported at an airport about 11 miles east of the accident site were from 120 degrees at 8 knots.
Factual narrative
On September 1, 2002, about 1150 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7ECA, N5091X, was substantially damaged when it struck a parked vehicle while landing at the Minute Man Air Field (6B6), Stow, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The tail-wheeled airplane was landing on runway 3, a 2,770 foot-long, 48 foot-wide, asphalt runway.
The pilot reported that the approach was normal; however, after touchdown, the airplane bounced and began to veer to the right. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and the pilot applied full power in an attempt to climb; however the airplane struck a car parked in an aircraft tie down area.
Two witnesses at the airport stated they observed the airplane bouncing after touchdown. One witness said:
"...Once the main gear touched, the tail came down swiftly, touched the surface, and just as swiftly went back up. It appeared that the propeller was about to strike when the tail started lowering again and the aircraft went airborne, after which the aircraft porpoised once or twice. On what I believe was the second porpoise, the left wing came up first, and the plane veered towards the right. The plane continued on this course, bouncing once on the right main gear in the grass, then the tail wheel bounced, but the left main gear did not touch this final time. The plane was headed straight for the line of parked cars and planes..."
The pilot reported 421 hours of total flight experience, which included 35 hours in make and model. He did not report any mechanical malfunctions.
Winds reported at an airport about 11 miles east of 6B6, at 1156, were from 120 degrees at 8 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5091X
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 656
- Airframe hours
- 1,920
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Ronald L. Emond
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 2, 2002 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- EEN · Keene, NH
- Destination
- 6B6 · Stow, MA
- Airport
- 6B6 · Minute Man Air Field, runway 3, 2,770 × 48 ft, asphalt
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
- 51
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- January 13, 2001
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 421 total · 35 in this make and model · 364 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.46 inHg
- Observed at
- BED, 10 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.