# NTSB WPR09CA178: American Champion 7GCAA, N224RA, Monterey, CA, April 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 4, 2009, 11:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Monterey, CA - Coordinates: 36.585556, -121.83889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5856&lon=-121.8389&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73596/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA178 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to attain/maintain an adequate airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The wind was variable and shifting from onshore to offshore. After the run-up, the pilot taxied to the hold short line and noted that the wind continued to shift. Immediately after clearing the pilot for takeoff on runway 10R, the controller told the pilot that the winds had shifted and now were from 330 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot noted that she would be taking off with a left quartering tailwind. During the ground roll, she pushed the stick forward to bring the tail up, then she eased up on the forward pressure and the airplane became airborne momentarily. The pilot was attempting to get the airplane into ground effect for more airspeed, but the wind changed direction again and the airplane yawed to the left. She tried to correct, but stated that there was no lift and no altitude, and the airplane was in a nose-up attitude. The nose quickly dropped to the right, and the airplane came to a rest on its belly off to the right side of the runway. The tail wheel and left gear collapsed, the left wing tip was damaged, and the prop struck the ground. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The wind was variable and shifting from onshore to off-shore. After the run-up, the pilot taxied to the hold short line and noted that the wind continued to shift. Immediately after clearing the pilot for takeoff on runway 10R, the controller told the pilot that the winds had shifted and now were from 330 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot noted that she would be taking off with a left quartering tailwind. During the ground roll, she pushed the stick forward to bring the tail up, then she eased up on the forward pressure, and the airplane became airborne momentarily. The pilot was attempting to get the airplane into ground effect for more airspeed, but the wind changed direction again, and the airplane yawed to the left. She tried to correct, but stated that there was no lift and no altitude, and the airplane was in a nose up attitude. The nose quickly dropped to the right, and the airplane came to a rest on its belly off to the right side of the runway. The tail wheel and left gear collapsed, the left wing tip was damaged, and the prop struck the ground. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N224RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N224RA), registered now, S/N 4832004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion 7GCAA - Registry model: [American Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcaa) (registry code 2121002) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4832004 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Monterey Bay Aviation - Registered owner: David Casarez Excavating, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: MRY, Monterey, CA - Destination: MRY, Monterey, CA - Airport: MRY, Monterey, runway 10R, 7,616 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 308 total, 75 in this make and model, 142 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KMRY ## 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 20090404003219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090404003219A), Apr 4, 2009: Bbavia 7GCAA, Monterey, CA, Destroyed. (-23) Upon takeoff on runway 10 right at kmry, the pilot misjudged the quartering tailwinds, (330 degrees at 6 knots) and its effect on the aircraft which… 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.