Champion 7FC accident near Maxwell, California, September 10, 2022
On September 10, 2022 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1957 Champion 7FC, registered N7550B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Maxwell, California (Richter Aviation 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2022 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Maxwell, California · Richter Aviation · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7FC, built 1957 · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N7550B · registry record · serial 7FC-52
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, the airplane began to veer right, and he attempted to correct with left rudder control. The airplane subsequently departed the runway surface, traveled through a ditch, and came to rest on the right side of the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage lugs. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 104 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 65 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,619 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-12F (piston); 300 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 12CN Maxwell CA at 8:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 2,856 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 2976.00 inHg
Weather report (METAR): KOVE 101553Z AUTO 20005KT 6SM HZ CLR 28/05 A2976
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 WPR22LA369.