Champion 7GCAA accident near Aurora, Colorado, November 22, 1998
On November 22, 1998 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Champion 7GCAA, registered N9632S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aurora, Colorado (Aurora Airpark 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. Factors were the gusty crosswind and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 22, 1998 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Colorado · Aurora Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N9632S · no longer on the register · serial 60
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed on runway 32 (4,687 ft. X 38 ft., asphalt) with a right 'gusty' crosswind. After touch down, the tail wheel began to 'shimmy.' The pilot said he pushed the control stick forward to relieve pressure on the tail wheel. He said a gust of wind then caused the airplane and weather vane sharply to the right. The airplane collided with terrain and nosed over.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 414 hours in all; 230 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,645 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 9, 1998; 135 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5V4 Calhan CO at 6:50 pm
- Destination: 0IV CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,687 ft by 38 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from BKF, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N9632S 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.