Aeronca Champion accident near Kirbyville, Texas, July 25, 2007
On July 25, 2007 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Aeronca Champion, registered N9870B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kirbyville, Texas (Private Airstrip 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 inability to maintain directional control during takeoff roll as result of the failure of the airplane's tailwheel's steering arm.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 2007 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Kirbyville, Texas · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca Champion
- Registration
- N9870B · registry record · serial FC-193
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost control of airplane when the steering arm from the tailwheel assembly failed during the initial takeoff roll. The 20,000-hours airline transport rated pilot reported that about 250-feet along the takeoff roll, when the airplane was accelerating through 40 to 45 mph, the airplane started to pull to the right and his full left rudder input was unable maintain directional control. The 2,600-feet long by 80-foot wide grass airstrip featured a 4 to 5 foot deep ditch along the right side of the airstrip. The pilot added that he attempted to get airborne prematurely and the airplane was able to clear the ditch; however, after clearing the ditch, the right wing became entangled in some tall grass and airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The vintage airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot and passenger exited the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage sustained structural damage. A detailed examination of the tailwheel assembly confirmed that the steering arm was completely fractured. The wind at the time of the accident was reported as calm. The pilot had accumulated approximately 30 hours in the same make and model.
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: airline transport pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,778.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T12 Kirbyville TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: BPT Beaumont/Port A TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway unk, 2,600 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.