Champion 7KCAB accident near Gordon, Nebraska, July 20, 2022
On July 20, 2022 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1969 Champion 7KCAB, registered N7119, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Gordon, Nebraska (Gordon Municipal 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 loss of control while landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane with a gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2022 · about 6:15 pm local time · cases in 2022
- Place
- Gordon, Nebraska · Gordon Municipal Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB, built 1969 · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N7119 · no longer on the register · serial 165
- 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 he was performing a landing to runway 29 in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. Prior to the tailwheel contacting the runway, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the left and the pilot lost control of the airplane. The nose of the airplane swerved left, and the pilot attempted to regain directional control using rudder and right brake. Unsuccessful, the airplane continued off the left side of the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that contributed to the accident. The pilot estimated the prevailing wind to be from the west at 12 kt gusting to 17 kts.
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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 493 hours in all; 336 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 429 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,269 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2022; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 2,300 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRWL Rawlins WY at 3:30 pm
- Destination: KGRN Gordon NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 2,284 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 12:15 pm from KGRN
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGRN 201815Z AUTO 28008KT 10SM CLR 31/07 A3005 RMK AO2 T03110074=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 22, 2022. 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 | Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7119: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Champion 7 Citabria and Champ 1,451 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Champion 1,603 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A 11 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Gordon Municipal · nearest airport
- Rawlins Muni/Harvey Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Nebraska 763 since 1982 · 108 in the last ten years
- Nebraska 2,947 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN22LA327.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.