# NTSB SEA95LA144: Champion 7GCBC, N1887G, Moses Lake, WA, July 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1995, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Moses Lake, WA - Coordinates: 47.189456, -119.300743 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1895&lon=-119.3007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42186 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA95LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42186/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA95LA144 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, go-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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1887G), registered now, S/N 117, built 1968 (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: 117 - Airframe hours: 683 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950703044089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950703044089A), Jul 3, 1995: Bbavia 7GCBC, Moses Lake, WA, Substantial damage. Swerve on crosswind go around. Gust lifted wing. Cleared wind tee. Dragged wing and cartwheeled. Excessive wind. 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.