Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Port Gibson, Mississippi 39150
Saturday, April 19, 2014 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing to the west, on a private, grass airstrip. He stated that as the airplane touched down, he became blinded by the setting sun that was located low on the horizon. The airplane subsequently veered to the right into a tree line, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the right main landing gear. The pilot reported that he did not experience any preaccident malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. Winds reported an airport that was located about 30 miles north of the accident site, around the time of the accident, were from 360 degrees at 7 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was sun glare.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/19/2014
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Port Gibson
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 39150
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 315738N
Event Location Longitude 0905855W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 100
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID TVR
Elevation of weather observation facility 86
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32839
NTSB Notification Source FAA Jackson FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2014 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82206
NTSB Number ERA14CA267
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CHAMPION
Aircraft Model AERONCA 7AC
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7AC-834
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 30 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3082
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Gayle Beard
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Tallulah
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 71282
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Gayle Beard
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Tallulah
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 71282
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 9LS5
Departure City Tallulah
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1815
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Port Gibson
Destination State MS
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2014 12:07PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --