N36268

On October 05, 2018, a Champion 7ECA (N36268) was involved in an incident near Cleveland, TX. 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in a gusting crosswind conditions.

The pilot reported that, while landing on a private grass airstrip, in a crosswind, a gust from the right made the tailwheel-equipped airplane weathervane into the wind. He added that, while correcting for the crosswind, the airplane drifted left, and the left main landing gear sunk into soft ground. The airplane pivoted left, the right main landing gear exited the runway, and the airplane nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right wing spar, and the left wing lift strut.

The pilot reported that the wind was variable at 10 knots, gusting 15 knots.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA19CA019. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N36268.