Champion 7FC N9899B

Summary

On 24 November 1995 at about 18:30 local time, a Champion 7FC registered N9899B was involved in an accident near Fredericksburg, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 November 1995 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fredericksburg, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Gillespie County (T82)

Coordinates

30.2697, -98.8705

Aircraft

Champion 7FC

Registration

N9899B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Comfort → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA052

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Factors were the binding tailwheel and the pilot's lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the landing roll, the airplane began a slow left turn. The pilot corrected with full right rudder, and when the airplane did not respond, he then applied the right heel brake. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, encountered newly plowed dirt and nosed over. An aircraft mechanic examined the airplane and reported that when right rudder was applied, the tailwheel did not swivel freely, but required 'a lot of pressure' to break it loose from the centered position. The pilot stated that his inexperience prevented him from realizing the tailwheel steering on the airplane was not working properly. He further stated that he should have used the brakes sooner. The pilot had a total of 17 hours flight time in tailwheel airplanes, all of which were in the accident airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.