Casualties unknown

2006-07-20: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC (N53SE) — Wayne E. Handley — Greenfield, CA

Greenfield, CA, US

On July 20, 2006, an American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC (registration N53SE) operated by Wayne E. Handley was involved in an aviation accident near Greenfield, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel airplane ground looped and nosed over after encountering a wind gust during landing roll on unimproved terrain. The pilot reported wind at 20 knots with gusts.

Incident Overview

A tailwheel-equipped airplane experienced a ground loop and subsequent nose-over during the landing roll on unimproved terrain. The pilot had earlier performed a touch-and-go on a ridgeline and, after encountering no difficulties, became "over confident" and decided to conduct a full stop landing.

Sequence of Events

During the landing roll, when the airplane slowed to below 5 miles per hour, a gust of wind lifted the left wing. The pilot applied power and attempted to correct for the gust but lacked control authority due to the reduced speed. The right wing tip then contacted the ground, causing the airplane to rotate to the right. The airplane nosed down, exposing the bottom of the fuselage to the wind, which subsequently blew the airplane over onto its top.

Environmental Conditions

The pilot reported the wind at 20 knots with gusts. The landing took place on unimproved terrain.

Pilot Actions

The pilot stated that after the touch-and-go, he felt overconfident and proceeded with a full stop landing. During the event, he applied power and tried to counteract the gust, but the low speed limited control effectiveness.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20060817X01193. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.