Champion 7GC accident near Warren, Arkansas, July 14, 2018
On July 14, 2018 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 1959 Champion 7GC, registered N2127C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Warren, Arkansas (Warren Muni 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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2018 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Warren, Arkansas · Warren Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GC No Series, built 1959 · all 7GCs on the register
- Registration
- N2127C · registry record · serial 7GC-50
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during a three-point landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, as soon as the airplane touched down, the tailwheel shimmied. He raised the tail attempting to keep the airplane straight, but it veered right. He applied left brake, but the airplane continued toward a ditch. He then applied right rudder and right brake attempting to spin the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilot reported that the wind was from 230° at 4 knots at the accident airport. The automated weather observation system about 17 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 230° at 7 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 21.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 290 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 290 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 12, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2B (piston); 2,426 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M3 Carlisle AR at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 3M9 Warren AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,829 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KLLQ, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 30, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Record of Conversation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.