# NTSB WPR22LA369: Champion 7FC, N7550B, Maxwell, CA, September 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 10, 2022, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Maxwell, CA · 12CN - Coordinates: 39.275564, -122.17958 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2756&lon=-122.1796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 106078 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA369 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106078/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106078 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA369 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion. ## 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 7FC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101NX), [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 7FC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7FC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101NX), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer right, and he attempted to correct with left rudder control. The airplane subsequently departed the runway surface, traveled through a ditch, and came to rest on the right side of the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage lugs. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7550B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7550B), registered now, S/N 7FC-52 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7FC - Registry model: [Champion 7FC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7fc) (registry code 21101NX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7FC-52 - Year built: 1957 - Airframe hours: 8619 - Engines: Continental C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 2022 - Departed: 12CN, Maxwell, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 12CN, Richter Aviation, runway 16, 2,856 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 104 total, 10 in this make and model, 65 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 2976.00 inHg - Observed at: KOVE, 25 nm away - METAR: KOVE 101553Z AUTO 20005KT 6SM HZ CLR 28/05 A2976 ## 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 20220910016049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220910016049A), Sep 10, 2022: Champion 7FC, Maxwell, CA, Substantial damage. On September 10, 2022, the pilot[privacy data omitted] of the aircraft had purchased the aircraft the week prior to the event. He flew the aircraft for the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106078. 14.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 14.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14943039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA369_6120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14941372&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20Tealeye%20Cornejo%20WPR22LA369-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 286 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14941362&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA369_photo508-Rel.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.