Champion AERONCA 7AC accident near Port Gibson, Mississippi, April 19, 2014
On April 19, 2014 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1946 Champion AERONCA 7AC, registered N82206, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Port Gibson, Mississippi (Private 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2014 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Port Gibson, Mississippi · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion AERONCA 7AC, built 1946 · all AERONCA 7ACs on the register
- Registration
- N82206 · registry record · serial 7AC-834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing to the west, on a private, grass airstrip. He stated that as the airplane touched down, he became blinded by the setting sun that was located low on the horizon. The airplane subsequently veered to the right into a tree line, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the right main landing gear. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Winds reported an airport that was located about 30 miles north of the accident site, around the time of the accident, were from 360 degrees at 7 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 during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 18,500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 18,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 15, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,082 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 30, 2013; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 66 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9LS5 Tallulah LA at 11:15 pm
- Destination: NONE Port Gibson MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from TVR, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 ERA14CA267.