Champion 7GCBC accident near Houston, Texas, July 14, 2020
On July 14, 2020 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1995 Champion 7GCBC, registered N72EB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Houston, Texas (Houston-Southwest airport). It was an instructional 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 flight instructor and student pilot did not properly transfer airplane control during ground rollout, which resulted in the airplane exiting the runway and impacting a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2020 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Houston, Texas · Houston-Southwest · 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 1995 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N72EB · registry record · serial 1211-95
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor stated that the student pilot made a stable approach to the runway during an orientation flight. During ground rollout, the airplane veered to the left and the flight instructor stated "I have the controls" on two different occasions. The student pilot did not understand the flight instructor, which resulted in the two pilots "fighting" over the flight controls. The airplane subsequently exited the runway and struck a ditch, damaging the right wing. The flight instructor stated there were no mechanical issues with the airplane.
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 defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,624 hours in all; 3,127 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 24,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 31, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,468 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-B2B (piston); 5,468 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AXH Houston TX at 4:00 pm
- Destination: AXH Houston TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,002 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KAXH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on September 10, 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 | Student Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo of Airplane | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N72EB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.