NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ERA16CA178
Registry · N82463
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
CHAMPION 7AC
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB42FD
Registrant of record
TOMLINSON CHARLES E JR
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind which resulted in a loss of directional control at touchdown and collapse of the landing gear.
Factual narrative
The pilot/owner of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated he was landing the airplane on a paved runway with a right, gusting crosswind. According to the pilot, "On final, we were right wing low on centerline, the right wheel touched, bounced a little, the left wing touched, and bounced a little, and then the left gear collapsed and the left wingtip touched the ground and the airplane slid to a stop."When asked about the performance and handling of the airplane, the pilot stated the airplane performed "great" and that he landed with a side load on the landing gear. He added that he was used to landing on grass, and that landing on asphalt "was a lot less forgiving." The pilot/owner of the tailwheel-equipped airplane stated he was landing the airplane on a paved runway with a right, gusting crosswind. According to the pilot, "On final, we were right wing low on centerline, the right wheel touched, bounced a little, the left wing touched, and bounced a little, and then the left gear collapsed and the left wingtip touched the ground and the airplane slid to a stop." When asked about the performance and handling of the airplane, the pilot stated the airplane performed "great" and that he landed with a side load on the landing gear. He added that he was used to landing on grass, and that landing on asphalt "was a lot less forgiving." Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Crosswind-Response/compensation - C
- C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Response/compensation - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2016_ERA16CA178.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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