Champion 7GCB accident near Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 29, 2026
On March 29, 2026 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1960 Champion 7GCB, registered N920CJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Colorado Springs, Colorado (Meadow Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2026 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · Meadow Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCB, built 1960 · all 7GCBs on the register
- Registration
- N920CJ · registry record · serial 56
- 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 while departing the runway in gusty wind conditions, he encountered a left crosswind and which deviated the airplane from his intended flight path. The pilot determined that he did not have enough time to recover and elected to land on an adjacent grass runway. Upon landing, the airplane’s left main landing gear touched down hard and collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, he reported that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining conservative personal minimums for gusty and crosswind conditions and that continued training in gusty crosswinds can enhance safety.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 228.5 hours in all; 179.7 in this make and model; 60.9 in the last 90 days; 20.8 in the last 30 days; 88.5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 778 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 26, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 836 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16/3, 5,001 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KFLY
Weather report (METAR): KFLY 291835Z AUTO 28005G15KT 10SM CLR 23/M06 A3015 RMK AO2 T02251065,M
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA151.