# NTSB NYC03LA126: American Champion 7EC, N607EC, Louisville, KY, June 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2003, 09:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Louisville, KY - Coordinates: 38.227779, -85.663612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2278&lon=-85.6636&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 57187 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC03LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57187/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA126 ## Probable cause The pilots inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor related to the accident was the crosswind. ## 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 - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker ## Analysis While landing, the wind began to make the airplane unstabilized. After the main wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left at a 45-degree angle, and proceeded off the runway surface onto the grass. The pilot regained control of the airplane; however, the right main landing gear struck a taxiway identification sign causing the airplane to turn 180 degrees. During the turn, the vertical stabilizer struck the ground. The accident flight was the pilots second solo flight in the tailwheeled airplane. The winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2003, at 0950 eastern daylight time, an American Champion 7EC, N607EC, was substantially damaged while landing at Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the accident flight was his second solo flight in the tailwheeled airplane. He had completed about 12 to 15 landings while conducting the solo flights. While landing on runway 24, a 4,326-foot-long, 80-foot-wide asphalt runway, the wind began to make the airplane unstabilized. After the main wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left at a 45-degree angle, and proceeded off the runway surface onto the grass. The pilot regained control of the airplane; however, the right main landing gear struck a taxiway identification sign causing the airplane to turn 180 degrees. During the turn, the vertical stabilizer struck the ground. Upon coming to a complete stop, the pilot taxied the airplane back to the ramp area. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any abnormalities with the airplane's flight controls, nor did the pilot report any. The winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N607EC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N607EC), registered now, S/N 7EC-713, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 7EC - Registry model: [Champion 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ec) (registry code 21101NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 713 - Airframe hours: 2790 - Engines: Continental C-90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bowman Eagles Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 7, 2003, 62 hours before - Departed: LOU - Destination: LOU - Airport: LOU, Bowman Field, runway 24, 4,326 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 25, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total, 26 in this make and model, 199 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LOU ## 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 20030610010519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030610010519A), Jun 10, 2003: Bbavia 7EC, Louisville, KY, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was practicing touch and go's on runway 24. Winds were 190 degrees at 7 knots. Upon landing pilot stated the aircraft ballooned a little with right… 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.