# NTSB WPR12CA043: American Champion 7GCAA, N497AC, Baker, CA, November 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 15, 2011, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Baker, CA - Coordinates: 35.041942, -116.30278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0419&lon=-116.3028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82357 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82357/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82357 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA043 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to perform an aborted landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2121002), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 pilot reported that he was part of a flight of three airplanes that had taken off from a nearby private dirt airstrip about 18 miles from the accident location. The pilots in the flight intended to land their airplanes in a clear area of a field. They overflew the intended 1,000-foot-long landing area to make sure it was clear. The accident pilot landed second, and, nearing the touchdown, noted that the wind was calm, but with periods of variability. He stated that a temporary tailwind of about 5 knots caused a higher ground speed on touchdown than he expected. As the airplane neared the end of the landing area, the pilot observed that the airplane had too much speed to stop in the remaining distance and an aborted landing was no longer possible. The pilot stated that he entered a left turn and let it progress to a controlled ground loop to avoid overrunning the landing area. The right wing hit a raised dirt area, and the right wing tip and spar, right aileron, and right landing gear and wheel were damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was part of a flight of three airplanes that had taken off from a nearby private dirt strip about 18 miles from the accident location. The pilots in the flight intended to land in a clear area of a field. They overflew the intended landing strip to make sure it was clear. The landing area was about 1,000 feet long and 1/4 mile wide. The accident pilot landed second, and nearing the touchdown, noted that the wind was calm, but with periods of speed increase and variability. He stated that a temporary tail wind had come up of about 5 knots, which caused a higher ground speed on touchdown than he expected. As the airplane neared the end of the landing strip, the pilot observed that the airplane had too much speed to stop in the remaining distance and a go-around was no longer possible. The pilot stated that he entered a left turn and let it progress to a controlled ground loop to avoid running off the end of the dirt strip. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and that the right wing tip and spar, along with the aileron, and right landing gear and wheel were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N497AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N497AC), registered now, S/N 497-2005, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCAA - Registry model: [American Champion 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcaa) (registry code 2121002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Superior O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-o-360-series) (registry code 59250, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 497-2005 - Airframe hours: 683 - Engines: SUPERIOR VANTAGE O-360-A3A2 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William McClellan - Registered owner: Swest Properties LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2011, 147 hours before - Departed: na, Llano, CA - Destination: na, Baker, CA - Airport: na, Dirt Strip, runway 27, 1,000 × 1,000 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 31, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 1,900 total, 820 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 19 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PMD, 15 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 20111115028209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111115028209A), Nov 15, 2011: American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA, Baker, CA, Substantial damage. Landed at a off airport/airstrip and the right wing hit the ground ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82357. 636 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 636 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359261&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.