DEN07CA023

Factual narrative

On November 13, 2006, at 0938 mountain standard time, an American Champion 7GCBC, N87VF, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it landed hard during an attempted an aborted landing at Santa Fe Municipal Airport (SAF), Santa Fe, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The local flight originated from Santa Fe approximately 0700. The pilot said he made a normal wheel landing and allowed the tail to settle. When the tail wheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder but the airplane did not respond. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and the pilot applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing. The airplane lifted off briefly, then "settled back on the runway, impacted, and spun around." The FAA inspector who went to the scene said his investigation revealed that during the landing abort, the airplane lifted off, stalled, and landed hard. Post-accident inspection revealed the left wing spar was bent, and a rib was broken, the left elevator and rudder were bent, the empennage was twisted, and the left main landing gear was torn off. Flight control continuity was established, and no system anomalies were found. The pilot made a normal wheel landing and allowed the tail to settle. When the tail wheel touched the runway, the airplane veered sharply to the left. The pilot applied full right rudder but the airplane did not respond. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and the pilot applied full power in an attempt to abort the landing. The airplane lifted off, stalled, and landed hard. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12