On June 21, 2004, a Champion 7GCB (registration N9827Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Florence, OR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Pilot's improper touchdown point during landing. A sand mound was a factor in the accident. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported encountering a wind gust before touchdown, landing right of intended point, then hitting a sand mound that collapsed the left landing gear, causing substantial fuselage damage. Wind was 280° at 2-4 knots gusting to 6 knots.
Incident Summary
A pilot reported that during landing, a wind gust was encountered just before touchdown. The airplane subsequently landed to the right of the intended touchdown point. Shortly after landing, the airplane struck a sand mound, resulting in the collapse of the left landing gear leg. The fuselage sustained substantial damage as a result of the event.
Pilot Statement
In a written statement, the pilot described the circumstances of the accident. According to the pilot, the wind at the time was from 280 degrees at 2 to 4 knots, with gusts reaching 6 knots. The pilot did not provide any further analysis or contributing factors in the statement.
Damage
Substantial damage was reported to the fuselage following the collapse of the left landing gear leg. No other damage items were specified in the source.