NTSB WPR23LA355 — 2023-09-07 · Woodland, California, United States

Current FAA registration · N234RA

Make / Model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC
Year of manufacture: 2003 · 20 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 20031112
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A218D4

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N234RA AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a ground loop.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that shortly after touchdown, during the landing roll, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, and ground looped. Subsequently, the right wing impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2023_WPR23LA355.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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