Champion 7FC accident near Reidsville, North Carolina, October 10, 2014
On October 10, 2014 at about 2:30 pm local time, a 1957 Champion 7FC, registered N7591B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Reidsville, North Carolina (Rockingham County Nc Shiloh 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 during landing roll in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2014 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Reidsville, North Carolina · Rockingham County Nc Shiloh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC, built 1957 · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N7591B · no longer on the register · serial 7FC-93
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, during landing the airplane "settled" onto runway 31. Then, a "gust of wind lifted" the left wing and he attempted to counteract the movement by applying aileron correction. However, the airplane veered to the left, struck a runway sign and a taxiway light, and then came to rest in a grassy area. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, horizontal stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The wind reported at the airport around the time of the accident was from 250 degrees at 4 knots, gusting to 14 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
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,358 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,358 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 3, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,749.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 20, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Motors Inc. O-200 (piston); 2,750 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6A5 Reidsville NC at 2:00 pm
- Destination: SIF Reidsville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,199 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KSIF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.