- Date
- May 25, 2020, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Spotted Horse, WY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N771CTChampion 7GCBC
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- FAA report
- 20200525007149A
- Case key
- 101329
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control during an aborted takeoff with a tailwind, which resulted in a noseover.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, on a moderately downhill sloped field, with what he believed was a calm wind, he noticed that the airspeed was not increasing as anticipated. The pilot chose to abort the takeoff and reduced power and applied full braking application. After the airplane slowed considerably, and losing elevator authority, the tail of the airplane lifted. The pilot was unable to release the brakes in time to avoid the airplane from nosing over and coming to rest inverted. After exiting the airplane, the pilot reported that he noticed that the takeoff was with a tailwind of about 10 to 15 knots and shifting directions. Both wings and the rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll, on a moderately downhill sloped field, with what he believed was a calm wind, he noticed that the airspeed was not increasing as anticipated. The pilot chose to abort the takeoff and reduced power and applied full braking application. After the airplane slowed considerably, and losing elevator authority, the tail of the airplane lifted. The pilot was unable to release the brakes in time to avoid the airplane from nosing over and coming to rest inverted. After exiting the airplane, the pilot reported that he noticed that the takeoff was with a tailwind of about 10 to 15 knots and shifting directions. Both wings and the rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N771CT
- Reported as
- Champion 7GCBC (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1407-2006
- Built
- 2006
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A2, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 10, 2019 · 718 hours before
- Departed
- Spotted Horse, WY
- Destination
- BYG · Buffalo, WY
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device
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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 23, 2020
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 369 total · 81 in this make and model · 281 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Observed at
- KGCC, 30 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 14.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.