# Accident 20260301003989A: American Champion 8GCBC, Carefree, AZ, March 1, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 1, 2026, 19:22 local time
- Place: Carefree, AZ
- Airport: Sky Ranch At Carefree
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8186° N, 111.8981° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8186&lon=-111.8981&mi=10
- Aircraft: N636DB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N636DB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 8GCBC (registry code 2121004, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-390-A1B6 (registry code 42407, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-a1b6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION 8GCBC
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,520 total, 300 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA114) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260301003989A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT OF AN AMERICAN CHAMPION DENALI SCOUT EQUIPPED WITH 29-INCH TUNDRA TIRES PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON THE AIRCRAFT’S MIXTURE CONTROL SYSTEM. FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE, THE PILOT DEPARTED FOR GRAPEVINE AIRSTRIP (88AZ), BUT SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED AT BUZZARD GULCH, AN UNIMPROVED REMOTE AIRSTRIP APPROXIMATELY 20 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHEAST OF PAYSON.

AFTER LANDING AND WHILE TAXIING IN PREPARATION FOR DEPARTURE, THE PILOT OBSERVED ABNORMAL BOUNCING FROM THE TAIL SECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE AIRCRAFT AND CONDUCTED A VISUAL INSPECTION, WHICH REVEALED THE TAILWHEEL ASSEMBLY HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO A BROKEN LEAF SPRING AND WAS BEING DRAGGED BY THE CONTROL CABLES.

THE PILOT CONTACTED SEVERAL ACQUAINTANCES FOR RECOVERY ASSISTANCE FROM THE REMOTE LOCATION; HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE. ONE INDIVIDUAL SUGGESTED USING ENGINE THRUST TO RAISE THE TAIL DURING TAKEOFF. DUE TO THE LATE HOUR, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPART THE AIRSTRIP AND RETURN THE AIRCRAFT TO THE HOME AIRPORT IN ITS DAMAGED CONDITION. THE TAKEOFF WAS COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY USING THE DESCRIBED TECHNIQUE.

UPON RETURN, THE PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A GRAVEL AREA ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WITH THE INTENTION OF KEEPING THE TAIL ELEVATED DURING LANDING ROLLOUT AND STOPPING. WHILE ON THE GRAVEL SURFACE, BRAKE APPLICATION WITH THE TAIL ELEVATED CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO PITCH FORWARD AND OVERTURN, RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING, WING STRUT, AND VERTICAL STABILIZER.

## 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 WPR26LA114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA114), Mar 2, 2026: American Champion 8GCBC (N636DB), Carefree, AZ, substantial damage

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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