American Champion 7GCBC N72EB

Summary

On 16 June 2010 at about 18:00 local time, a American Champion 7GCBC registered N72EB, operated by Stearman Ventures Ltd, was involved in an accident near Arcola, Texas, 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

16 June 2010 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Arcola, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Houston Southwest (AXH)

Coordinates

29.5061, -95.4769

Aircraft

American Champion 7GCBC

Registration

N72EB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stearman Ventures Ltd

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Arcola → Arcola

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN10CA328

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the landing roll.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Following two successful stop-and-go landings in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, the student pilot departed for his third solo flight around the airport’s traffic pattern. While on final approach the student’s flight instructor observed from the ground that the airplane appeared to be high and slow and requested via the aircraft radio that the student execute a go-around. The student pilot complied and while he was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern the flight instructor instructed him to make a full-stop landing. During the landing roll, the student pilot retracted the wing flaps and added engine power as if to takeoff. The flight instructor reminded the student that this was to be a full-stop landing. The student pilot then reduced engine power; however, he also released back pressure on the control stick. As the rudder lost its effectiveness, the student pilot lost directional control and the airplane exited the side of the runway. The airplane impacted a ditch and nosed over, resulting in structural damage to both wings. An examination of the airplane following the accident revealed no preimpact anomalies with the airplane’s flight control system.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.