Champion 7ECA accident near Thomasville, Georgia, June 17, 2010
On June 17, 2010 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N73PC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Thomasville, Georgia (Thomasville Regional 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 improper reinstallation of the airplane’s oleo piston assembly during an annual inspection, resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear during touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2010 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Thomasville, Georgia · Thomasville Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N73PC · registry record · serial 7ECA-48
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that as the airplane touched down on the runway he heard a "pop" or a "snap" sound. The airplane collided with the runway on its right side and slid down the surface until coming to rest. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a bolt on the right main landing gear was absent. The bolt, which holds the oleo, or shock absorber, unit in the housing, was incorrectly installed above and through the oleo assembly. This resulted in the bolt coming out of the housing, which in turn led to the cylinder and spring overextending out of its respective housing. There was no evidence of fatigue, stress, or corrosion on the failed component. A review of the airframe logbook indicated that the last annual inspection was conducted about 45 days and 3.8 flight hours prior to the accident. The airplane's parts manual stated that after performing maintenance of the oleo the mechanics should be certain that the bolt passes through the retainer at the top end of the oleo. The manual further warned that if this is not done, the oleo will fall out when the airplane takes off.
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
- Aircraft inspection event during prior to flight
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Inadequate inspection
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,397 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,342 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,357 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 2010; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor 0-200 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: N117Vr LLC
The flight
- Departed from: COI Merritt Island FL at 12:20 pm
- Destination: TVI Thomasville GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04, 5,496 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:22 pm from TVI
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 ERA10LA351.