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ERA16CA178

2016-04-23 · Jasper, Alabama, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport JFX

Current FAA registration · N82463

Make / Model
CHAMPION 7AC
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AB42FD

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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, 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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