Champion 7GCBC accident near Ocklawaha, Florida, August 25, 2018
On August 25, 2018 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1976 Champion 7GCBC, registered N7618S, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Ocklawaha, Florida (Woods And Lakes Airpark 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).
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
- August 25, 2018 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ocklawaha, Florida · Woods And Lakes Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC No Series, built 1976 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N7618S · registry record · serial 923-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, a wind gust from the right caused the airplane to weathervane. The airplane veered right off the runway, ground looped to the right, and the left wing and elevator impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilot added that he was a "very experienced pilot, but very inexperienced with tailwheel operations." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded 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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
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
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,300 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 22, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,773 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 1,773 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FA38 Ocklawaha FL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: FA38 Ocklawaha FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,900 ft by 97 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 7:24 pm from KVVG, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 19, 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 Photo | 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.