FTW00LA227

Factual narrative

On July 29, 2000, at 1000 central daylight time, a Champion 7KCAB tailwheel-equipped airplane, N2978G, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch during the landing roll at the John H. Hooks Jr. Memorial Airport near Rayville, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Barham Bros. Inc., of Oak Ridge, Louisiana. The flight instructor and the private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight originated from the John H. Hooks Jr. Memorial Airport at 0830. According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the flight instructor stated that he was demonstrating a normal landing on runway 18 at the end of the instructional flight. He reported that he "touched down 3-point with light crosswind." The airplane rolled 300-400 feet down the runway, and when the airplane was abeam a tree line, a gust of wind veered the airplane toward the right edge of the runway. The flight instructor stated that he attempted to correct for the wind gust; however, his "heel slid off of the heel brake." The flight instructor "held full rudder and got back on brake too late." The airplane exited the right side of the runway, and subsequently impacted a ditch. The pilot added that the wind was out of the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. According to the FAA inspectors who examined the airplane, the airplane's fuselage sustained structural damage. The flight instructor was demonstrating a normal landing to the south in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft. The pilot made a 3-point touchdown with a 'light crosswind.' The airplane rolled 300-400 feet down the runway, and when the airplane was abeam a tree line, a gust of wind veered the airplane toward the right edge of the runway. The flight instructor attempted to correct for the wind gust; however, his 'heel slid off of the heel brake.' The flight instructor 'held full rudder and got back on brake too late.' The airplane exited the right side of the runway, and subsequently impacted a ditch. The pilot added that the wind was out of the southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12