# NTSB WPR13CA179: Aeronca 7CCM, N4687E, Caldwell, ID, April 3, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 2, 2013, 18:30 local (Apr 3, 2013, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Caldwell, ID
- Coordinates: 43.641944, -116.635833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6419&lon=-116.6358&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA179
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86584/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86584
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA179

## Probable cause

The pilot's loss of directional control after an encounter with a wind gust during takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101MW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101MW), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Champion 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=21101MW), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101MW), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Champion 7CCM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=21101MW), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and a passenger departed from a private airport in a tandem-seat, tailwheel-equipped airplane, destined for a public airport about 3 miles to the south. The pilot reported that he performed a "short field" landing to a full stop on runway 12 and then began a takeoff from the stopping point. The airplane veered to the right, the pilot applied corrective inputs, but the airplane exited the left side of the runway and ground looped. Both wings sustained substantial damage. The weather about the time of the accident included wind from 360 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions and that he lost control due to a wind gust.

## Factual narrative

The pilot and his passenger departed from the private airport in the tandem-seat, tailwheel-equipped airplane, destined for a public airport about 3 miles to the south. The pilot reported that he conducted a "short field" landing to a full stop on runway 12, and then began a takeoff from the stopping point. The airplane veered to the right, the pilot applied corrective inputs, but the airplane then exited the left side of the runway, and ground looped. Both outboard wings sustained substantial damage. Neither occupant was injured. The weather about the time of the accident included wind from 360 degrees at 6 knots. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions, and that he lost control due to a wind gust.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4687E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4687E), registered now, S/N 7CCM-217 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 7CCM
- Registry model: [Champion 7CCM](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ccm) (registry code 21101MW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7CCM-217
- Airframe hours: 3042
- Engines: Continental C90 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2013
- Departed: ID00, Caldwell, ID
- Destination: EUL, Caldwell, ID
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: EUL, Caldwell Industrial, runway 12, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2013; seat: front; flight hours: 350 total, 35 in this make and model, 295 as pilot in command, 76 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: EUL

## 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 20130402004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130402004929A), Apr 2, 2013: Aeronca CHAMP, Caldwell, ID, Substantial damage. On 4/2/2013 at approximately 20:13 (MDT), aircraft N4687E, an Aeronca Champ, was landing at the Caldwell id airport (keul) and departed the runway. The pilot,…

## Docket (11 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86584. 3.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391789&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Airport Manager (item 3, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Airport%20Manager-Master.PDF
- FAA Diagram of Ground Scars (item 4, .PDF, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Diagram%20of%20Ground%20Scars-Master.PDF
- Police Report Excerpts (item 5, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Police%20Report%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF
- METARs (item 6, .PDF, 171 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.PDF
- Photo 1. Cowl Damage (FAA Photo) (item 7, .PDF, 239 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Cowl%20Damage%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2. Left Wing Damage (FAA Photo) (item 8, .PDF, 179 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Left%20Wing%20Damage%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 3. Upper Fuselage (FAA Photo) (item 9, .PDF, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391807&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Upper%20Fuselage%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 4. Right Wing Damage (FAA Photo) (item 10, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391808&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20Right%20Wing%20Damage%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.PDF
- Photo 5. Right Wing Spar Damage (FAA Photo) (item 11, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Right%20Wing%20Spar%20Damage%20(FAA%20Photo)-Master.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.

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