# Accident 20221226019969A: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Payson, AZ, December 26, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 26, 2022, 11:55 local time
- Place: Payson, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2568° N, 111.3393° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2568&lon=-111.3393&mi=10
- Aircraft: N749PJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N749PJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 8GCBC (registry code 2121005, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-C1G (registry code 42284, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-C1G
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221226019969A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRMAN WAS PERFORMING A FLIGHT FOR PERSONAL PROFICIENCY.  HE HAS PERFORMED MULTIPLE TRAFFIC PATTERNS TO PERFORM A SERIES OF 3 POINT AND WHEEL LANDINGS ON RUNWAY 6.  WHEN THE WINDS HAD CHANGED DIRECTION, AIRCRAFT WERE TAXIING TO DEPART ON RUNWAY 24.  AIRMAN EXITED THE PATTERN AND REENTERED THE PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 24.  HE PERFORMED A SUCCESSFUL LANDING AND TOOK OFF FOR ANOTHER PATTERN.  IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO LANDING, THE AIRMAN ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND THAT UPSET THE LANDING RESULTING IN A YAW OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN A "GROUND-LOOP" TYPE TURN TO THE LEFT.  AS THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAF ENCOUNTERED A DRAINAGE DITCH OR SWALE.  THE LEFT LANDING GEAR TORE OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, THE LEFT WING WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION.  THE AIRMAN EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY.  THE AIRMAN CONTACTED THE NTSB REGARDING THIS INCIDENT.  THE PAYSON AIRPORT IS LOCATED ON A BLUFF.  LOCAL LORE SUGGESTS THAT WHEN WINDS FAVOR RUNWAY 24, AVOID THE "STRIPES" AS A LANDING POINT DUE TO SQUIRRLY WINDS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA075), Dec 26, 2022: American Champion 8GCBC (N749PJ), Payson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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