Aeronca CHAMPION 7GCBC accident near Mullen, Nebraska, September 12, 2004
On September 12, 2004 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Aeronca CHAMPION 7GCBC, registered N9657S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mullen, Nebraska. 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 failure of the pilot to maintain direction control during gusty wind conditions on landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 2004 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mullen, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca CHAMPION 7GCBC
- Registration
- N9657S · registry record · serial 26
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
the aircraft was substantially damaged after nosing over after a gust of wind caught the tail wheel aircraft during landing. The pilot reported that "During rollout after landing a gust of wind pushed tail to left. Left rudder and ultimately left brake was applied. Aircraft nosed over on back." The pilot reported the winds from the south southeast at 5 to 8 knots with gust from 10 to 12 knots.
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/WATER during landing - roll
- NOSE OVER during landing - roll
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none
- Flight time: 203 hours in all; 53 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: Mullen NE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°C, dew point 0°C
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 CHI04CA242.