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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2026 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Colorado Springs, Colorado · Meadow Lake · cases near this airport · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures 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 May 21, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · 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
- N920CJ on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Champion 7 Citabria and Champ 1,452 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Champion 1,604 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B 179 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Meadow Lake Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 384 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,464 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA151.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.