# Incident 20250921017819I: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, Livermore, CA, September 21, 2025

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 21, 2025, 02:52 local time
- Place: Livermore, CA
- Airport: Livermore Municipal
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.6934° N, 121.8204° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at LIVERMORE MUNI (LVK), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6934&lon=-121.8204&mi=10
- Aircraft: N66405, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N66405) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 8KCAB (registry code 2121000, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 series (registry code 41522, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,728 total, 254 in this make and model
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250921017819I

## Narrative

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

AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE RECENT PROPELLER STRIKE INCIDENT, IT HAS BEEN CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE WAS PILOT ERROR. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO UNCLEAR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) AND THE STUDENT PILOT WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 25L, WHICH IS A SHORT RUNWAY. THIS MISCOMMUNICATION LED TO EXCESSIVE BRAKING DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT’S TAIL TO RISE AND RESULTING IN A PROPELLER STRIKE.

THE INVESTIGATION FOUND NO MECHANICAL ISSUES OR EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) COMPLIANCE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, THE PIC UNDERWENT COUNSELING AS A CORRECTIVE MEASURE, CONDUCTED IN COORDINATION WITH AN OPS INSPECTOR. THIS SESSION FOCUSED ON IMPROVING CREW COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION, AND BRAKING TECHNIQUES SPECIFICALLY FOR SHORT-FIELD LANDINGS. THE COUNSELING IS INTENDED TO REDUCE FUTURE RISKS AND ENSURE ADHERENCE TO FAA STANDARDS.

THE DETAILS OF THE COUNSELING SESSION HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED IN THE RELEVANT TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE RECORDS, AND THE CASE WILL BE CONSIDERED CLOSED FOLLOWING THESE ACTIONS.

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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