# NTSB ANC10CA075: American Champion 8GCBC, N63AK, Talkeetna, AK, August 20, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 20, 2010, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.406944, -148.971115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4069&lon=-148.9711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77071 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77071/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77071 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA075 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an off airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on an off-airport mountain ridge in a single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane for the purpose of hunting. After touchdown and while rolling out, the airplane bounced and became airborne again. The pilot applied full engine throttle to abort the landing, but once clear of the ridge the airplane began to settle. Moments later the left wheel and left wingtip came in contact with sloping terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, the sole occupant, was able to exit unassisted. Both of the airplane’s wings sustained structural damage during the mishap. The pilot later reported that he had not experienced a malfunction or failure with the airplane’s flight controls or engine. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing on an off-airport mountain ridge in a single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane for the purpose of hunting. After touchdown and while rolling out, the airplane bounced and became airborne again. The pilot applied full engine throttle to abort the landing, but once clear of the ridge the airplane began to settle. Moments later the left wheel and left wingtip came in contact with sloping terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot, the sole occupant, was able to exit unassisted. Both of the airplane’s wings sustained structural damage during the mishap. The pilot later reported that he had not experienced a malfunction or failure with the airplane’s flight controls or engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63AK), registered now, S/N 467-2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 467-2005 - Airframe hours: 196 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Johannes Scott A - Registered owner: Johannes Scott A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2010 - Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK - Destination: Talkeetna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 12, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 496 total, 190 in this make and model, 433 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: PATK, 35 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100820044619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100820044619A), Aug 20, 2010: American Ch 8GCBC, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated:description of incident: I was drawn for a caribou permit in unit 14. On August 14 I flew over this area in search of potential landing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77071. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.