- Date
- March 8, 2008, 12:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place
- Tracy, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N75SEAmerican Champion 7GCAA
- Defining event
- Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Adminsitration
- FAA report
- 20080308011839A
- Case key
- 67642
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 flight instructor's inadequate compensation for the tailwind condition and failure to maintain adequate airspeed that led to an inadvertent stall.
Findings · 3
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 certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a simulated engine failure during takeoff initial climb by executing a 180-degree turn back to the airport. As the CFI was completing the maneuver, he initiated a go-around by applying full power. Subsequently the airplane stalled and impacted the runway in a left-wing low attitude. The CFI stated he was aware of the tailwind condition he would encounter as the airplane completed the 180-degree turn and that upon exiting the airplane, he noted the wind to be considerably higher than he had expected. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wings sustained substantial damage. No anomalies were noted with the engine or flight control systems.
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) was demonstrating a simulated engine failure during takeoff initial climb by executing a 180-degree turn back to the airport. As the CFI was completing the maneuver, he initiated a go-around by applying full power. Subsequently the airplane stalled and impacted the runway in a left wing low attitude. The CFI stated he was aware of the tailwind condition he would encounter as the airplane completed the 180-degree turn and that upon exiting the airplane, he noted the wind to be considerably higher than he had expected. Examination of the airplane revealed that the left and right wings sustained substantial damage. No anomalies were noted with the engine or flight control systems.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N75SE
- Reported as
- American Champion 7GCAA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 495-2005
- Airframe hours
- 913
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- West Valley Flying Club
- Registered owner
- Andy's Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 1, 2007
- Departed
- 1Q4 · Palo Alto, CA
- Airport
- 1Q4 · New Jerusalem Airport, runway 12, 3,530 × 60 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 5,100 total · 700 in this make and model · 4,950 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 129 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.15 inHg
- Observed at
- KSCK, 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.