Champion 7ECA accident near Eufaula, Alabama, November 16, 2015
On November 16, 2015 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 1966 Champion 7ECA, registered N9649S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Eufaula, Alabama (Weedon Field). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's decision to land with a quartering tailwind, resulting in a loss off directional control, excessive brake application, and a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2015 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Eufaula, Alabama · Weedon Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA Citabria, built 1966 · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N9649S · registry record · serial 396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the student pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he landed on an asphalt runway at about 80 miles per hour. He reported that during the landing on runway 18, the wind was 070 degrees true and a velocity of 5 knots. He reported that during the landing roll he "wasn't able" to apply the appropriate crosswind correction and subsequently applied excessive braking. The airplane nosed over and exited the right side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, left wing and rudder. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures associated with the airplane prior to, or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down 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 Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 39 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,795 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 5, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BGE Bainbridge GA at 3:25 pm
- Destination: EUF Eufaula AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from EUF
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.