Champion 7GCBC accident near Moses Lake, Washington, July 3, 1995
On July 3, 1995 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N1887G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moses Lake, Washington (Moses Lake Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING AND GO AROUND. THE CROSSWIND AND GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1995 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Moses Lake, Washington · Moses Lake Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N1887G · registry record · serial 117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED WITH STRONG CROSSWINDS AND GUSTS. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, AND EXECUTED A GO-AROUND. HE STATED THAT DURING THE GO-AROUND THE AIRPLANE HEADED TOWARDS THE WIND TEE. HE WAS ABLE TO FLY OVER THE WIND TEE. THE PILOT STATED THAT ANOTHER GUST OF WIND HIT HIM, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND A CONCRETE FUEL TANK ON THE DOWNWIND SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 193 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 147 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 683 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1994; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2S4 Warden WA at 9:50 pm
- Destination: WA40
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:39 pm from MWH, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.