No fatalities

15 May 2010: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC — ESMI FLIGHT SERVICES LLC — Glens Falls, NY

Glens Falls, NY, United States

On 15 May 2010, an AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC operated by ESMI FLIGHT SERVICES LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Glens Falls, NY. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a takeoff attempt. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

The pilot of a tailwheel airplane reported misjudging takeoff distance during a touch-and-go landing on a grass runway. After a left gust, the airplane drifted right, contacted the runway, and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage.

Accident Summary

A tailwheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a touch-and-go landing on a north-oriented grass runway. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries.

Flight Details

The flight was intended for touch-and-go landings. On the first landing, the pilot stated that he "misjudged the remaining takeoff distance" and was "a bit slow while trying to get airborne." As the airplane lifted off, it encountered a "gust" of wind from the left. The airplane then drifted to the right, contacted the runway surface, and nosed over. It came to rest inverted.

Damage Assessment

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing spar and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.

Weather Conditions

The automated weather report at the accident airport indicated winds from 330 degrees at 9 knots at the time of the occurrence.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained