SEA95LA144

NTSB accident investigation · Champion 7GCBC · Moses Lake, WA · July 3, 1995

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 3, 1995, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC)
Place
Moses Lake, WA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N1887GChampion 7GCBC
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 29, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950703044089A
Case key
42186

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing and go around. The crosswind and gusty wind conditions were factors in the accident.

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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - crosswindFactor
Weather condition - gustsFactor
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)

Analysis

The pilot landed with strong crosswinds and gusts. He was unable to maintain directional control during the landing rollout, and executed a go-around. He stated that during the go-around the airplane headed towards the wind tee. He was able to fly over the wind tee. The pilot stated that another gust of wind hit him, and he was unable to maintain control. The airplane impacted the ground and a concrete fuel tank on the downwind side of the runway.

Factual narrative

On July 3, 1995, about 1610 Pacific daylight time, N1887G, a Champion 7-GCBC airplane, operated by the pilot/owner, collided with an object during go around at Moses Lake, Washington, and was substantially damaged. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

According to the pilot, a landing was attempted on runway 16 at the Moses Lake Municipal Airport prior to the accident. During the landing, a gusting right crosswind prevailed and the airplane veered to the right after touchdown. The pilot attempted to correct for the drift by adding full left rudder, but to no avail. The pilot stated that he then added full power and began to go around for another attempt. During the takeoff, another gust of wind forced the airplane to continue turning toward the wind tee. The pilot said he made the airplane fly over the wind tee and ended up on the ground on the other side of the runway with the right wing up in the air. The airplane began to cartwheel and the left wing was substantially damaged when the aircraft collided with a concrete fuel container.

The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions associated with the airplane. The reported wind conditions near the time of the accident at a nearby airport (Grant County) indicated that the winds were blowing from a magnetic bearing of 250 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 25 knots.

Aircraft

Registration
N1887G
Reported as
Champion 7GCBC
Category
Airplane
Serial number
117
Airframe hours
683
Engine
Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Gerber, Lee
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 25, 1994 · 28 hours before
Departed
2S4 · Warden, WA
Destination
WA40
Airport
WA40 · Moses Lake Municipal, runway 16, 2,500 × 50 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
38
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Front
Flight hours
193 total · 32 in this make and model · 147 as pilot in command · 49 in the last 90 days · 39 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
250° at 15 knots, gusting 25
Visibility
65 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
MWH, 7 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.