Summary
On June 10, 2003, a American Champion (acac) 7EC (N607EC) was involved in an incident near Louisville, KY. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilots inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor related to the accident was the crosswind.
On June 10, 2003, at 0950 eastern daylight time, an American Champion 7EC, N607EC, was substantially damaged while landing at Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, the accident flight was his second solo flight in the tailwheeled airplane. He had completed about 12 to 15 landings while conducting the solo flights. While landing on runway 24, a 4,326-foot-long, 80-foot-wide asphalt runway, the wind began to make the airplane unstabilized.
This incident is documented in NTSB report NYC03LA126. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N607EC.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilots inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control. A factor related to the accident was the crosswind.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On June 10, 2003, at 0950 eastern daylight time, an American Champion 7EC, N607EC, was substantially damaged while landing at Bowman Field (LOU), Louisville, Kentucky. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to the pilot, the accident flight was his second solo flight in the tailwheeled airplane. He had completed about 12 to 15 landings while conducting the solo flights. While landing on runway 24, a 4,326-foot-long, 80-foot-wide asphalt runway, the wind began to make the airplane unstabilized. After the main wheels touched down, the airplane veered to the left at a 45-degree angle, and proceeded off the runway surface onto the grass. The pilot regained control of the airplane; however, the right main landing gear struck a taxiway identification sign causing the airplane to turn 180 degrees. During the turn, the vertical stabilizer struck the ground.
Upon coming to a complete stop, the pilot taxied the airplane back to the ramp area.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any abnormalities with the airplane's flight controls, nor did the pilot report any.
The winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident, were from 200 degrees at 7 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC03LA126