Champion 7FC N8566E

Summary

On 6 January 2005 at about 21:30 local time, a Champion 7FC registered N8566E, operated by Howard B. Cauley, was involved in an accident near Soperton, Georgia, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 January 2005 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Soperton, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Cauley's Airstrip (private) (3GA8)

Coordinates

32.3294, -82.6350

Aircraft

Champion 7FC

Registration

N8566E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Howard B. Cauley

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Soperton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05CA040

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff roll, which resulted in an on-ground collision with trees. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in a tailwheel airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he initiated a takeoff roll, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot's attempts to regain control were unsuccessful, and the airplane's left wingtip struck trees along the left edge of the runway. The airplane then spun around the left, and the right wing root and the propeller spinner struck the trees. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane. The pilot reported he had not received tailwheel instruction from a certificated flight instructor, and he did not have a tailwheel endorsement. He stated he had accumulated about 0.4 hours in the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.