Champion 7GCBC accident near Carbondale, Illinois, May 22, 2020
On May 22, 2020 at about 4:23 pm local time, a 1969 Champion 7GCBC, registered N5183X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Carbondale, Illinois (Southern Illinois Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive brake input while he attempted to maintain directional control during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2020 · about 4:23 pm local time
- Place
- Carbondale, Illinois · Southern Illinois Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC No Series, built 1969 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5183X · registry record · serial 170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the accident occurred during a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a hard surface runway. The pilot stated that upon touchdown the airplane began to swerve side-to-side due to the airplane's "natural instability" on the ground. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control by pulling full aft on the control stick and applying maximum braking; however, his excessive brake input while the airplane was in a level pitch attitude caused the airplane to pitch down and the propeller to impact the runway before the airplane pivoted back onto the tailwheel. The airplane came to rest upright on the runway. The tailwheel crushed the lower portion of the rudder when it landed hard on the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination confirmed flight control continuity and found no issues with the wheel brakes or the tailwheel.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 462 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 349 as pilot in command; 122 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 7, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,035 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 2019; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,035 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDH Carbondale IL at 3:30 pm
- Destination: MDH Carbondale IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18R, 3,498 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:32 pm from MDH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement (James Story) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Passenger Statement (Steven Goetz) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector Statement (Michael Veselka) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Weather Reports | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.