Champion 7ECA accident near Lander, Wyoming, August 19, 1996
On August 19, 1996 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N9542S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lander, Wyoming (Hunt Field). 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 of the airplane during the landing roll. Factors relating to the accident were: the variable and gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1996 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lander, Wyoming · Hunt Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N9542S · no longer on the register · serial 266
- 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 he had just been checked out in the tail-wheel equipped airplane by his flight instructor. He decided to practice touch-and-go landings. During the first solo landing, a gust of wind raised the right wing, and the airplane veered to the right. The pilot stated that he added full power, and the airplane became airborne. The pilot leveled the wings; however, the airplane did not gain sufficient altitude to clear the airport perimeter fence. It settled to the ground, and during the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed and both wings were damaged. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane before the accident. The wind was reported to be variable at 3 gusting 10 knots.
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
- Flight time: 304 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 237 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 1996; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from LND
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.
Other NTSB records under N9542S the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.