Champion 7GCB accident near Hailey, Idaho, June 4, 1998
On June 4, 1998 at about 10:33 pm local time, a Champion 7GCB, registered N912CP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hailey, Idaho (Friedman Memorial 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The disconnection of the rear right-main brake pedal from the brake master cylinder, and the overloading of the right main landing gear. A factor was the oscillation of the tailwheel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1998 · about 10:33 pm local time
- Place
- Hailey, Idaho · Friedman Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCB · all 7GCBs on the register
- Registration
- N912CP · registry record · serial 165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, flying from the front seat, was aware of a tailwheel shimmy condition prior to the flight. Upon touchdown, the aircraft's tailwheel began to oscillate. Marks on the runway showed tailwheel tire scuffing from the touchdown area and beyond. A second solid scuff mark associated with the left wheel was observed as both scuff marks diverged left of the runway centerline. Post-crash examination revealed that the rear right brake-pedal had disconnected from the connecting rod to the forward right brake-pedal and the disconnection rendered the forward right brake-pedal unusable. The disconnection occurred at the rear right brake-pedal attach eye, and one separation surface was observed to be clean whereas the opposing side was dirty. Cracks were observed inside the attach eye radii, as well as the opposing end of the pedal. The right-main landing gear separated. Examination of the tailwheel assembly revealed that the hexagonal nut which holds the inner lock ring in place had become loose allowing the lock ring to shift. This allowed the two lock ring pins to shear, thus allowing the tailwheel to oscillate or 'shimmy' during roll.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,125 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 4,723 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1997; 54 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: BOI Boise ID at 9:30 pm
- Destination: SUN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,602 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:37 pm from SUN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA98LA087.