# NTSB WPR20CA160: Champion 7ECA, N9557S, Vine Grove, KY, May 28, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2020, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Vine Grove, KY - Coordinates: 37.815834, -85.964721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8158&lon=-85.9647&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101355 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101355/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101355 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA160 ## Probable cause Aircraft control was not maintained during initial climb with gusting wind that resulted in a collision with power lines and the terrain. ## 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 7ECA, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7ECA, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after a normal takeoff and initial climb to the height of tree tops, the airplane encountered a couple of wind gusts with wind shear. The pilot recovered airplane control when the airplane encountered another gust that dropped the airplane down into power lines and subsequently the terrain. The fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after a normal takeoff and initial climb to the height of tree tops, the airplane encountered a couple of wind gusts with wind shear. The pilot recovered airplane control when the airplane encountered another gust that dropped the airplane down into power lines and subsequently the terrain. The fuselage and wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9557S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9557S-2020-09-21), registration cancelled 2020-09-21, S/N 371, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA (No Series) - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 371 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 3724.14 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2019, 14 hours before - Departed: 70KY, Vine Grove, KY - Destination: 70KY, Vine Grove, KY - Airport: 70KY, Vine Grove, runway 11, 2,700 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 30, 2018; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 8,500 total, 300 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 12 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,700 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F - Observed at: KFTK, 5 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 20200528010139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200528010139A), May 28, 2020: Champion 7ECA, Vine Grove, KY, Destroyed. Aircraft was on takeoff climb from runway 11 when the aircraft struck a powerline resulting from a wind shear. The aircraft came to rest at a heading of 354… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101355. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486569&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486571&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%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. --- 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.