No fatalities

19 Apr 2014: CHAMPION AERONCA 7AC — Port Gibson, MS

Port Gibson, MS, United States

On 19 Apr 2014, a CHAMPION AERONCA 7AC was involved in an aviation accident near Port Gibson, MS. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was sun glare. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During landing on a private grass airstrip, a pilot was blinded by the setting sun, causing the airplane to veer into a tree line and sustain substantial damage to both wings and the right main landing gear.

Overview

A pilot landing to the west on a private, grass airstrip reported that upon touchdown, he became blinded by the setting sun, which was located low on the horizon. The airplane subsequently veered to the right into a tree line.

Damage

The collision resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the right main landing gear. The pilot stated that no preaccident malfunctions or failures occurred that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

Wind Conditions

At an airport located about 30 miles north of the accident site, the reported wind around the time of the accident was from 360 degrees at 7 knots. No other weather information was provided.

Conclusion

The pilot did not report any mechanical issues prior to the event. The accident occurred during daylight hours, with the sun low on the horizon, directly ahead of the landing path.

Contributing factors

Causes

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on personnel