Champion 7FC accident near Fredericksburg, Texas, November 24, 1995
On November 24, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Champion 7FC, registered N9899B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fredericksburg, Texas (Gillespie County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 binding tailwheel and the pilot's lack of experience in tailwheel airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 24, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fredericksburg, Texas · Gillespie County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N9899B · registry record · serial 219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, the airplane began a slow left turn. The pilot corrected with full right rudder, and when the airplane did not respond, he then applied the right heel brake. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, encountered newly plowed dirt and nosed over. An aircraft mechanic examined the airplane and reported that when right rudder was applied, the tailwheel did not swivel freely, but required 'a lot of pressure' to break it loose from the centered position. The pilot stated that his inexperience prevented him from realizing the tailwheel steering on the airplane was not working properly. He further stated that he should have used the brakes sooner. The pilot had a total of 17 hours flight time in tailwheel airplanes, all of which were in the accident airplane.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,999 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,784 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,875 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1995; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1T5 Comfort TX at 5:00 pm
- Destination: T82
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.