# NTSB ANC25LA102: American Champion 8GCBC, N242BC, Unalakleet, AK, September 5, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 4, 2025, 21:31 local (Sep 5, 2025, 05:31 UTC) - Place: Unalakleet, AK - Coordinates: 62.859, -161.73566 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.8590&lon=-161.7357&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200970 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200970/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200970 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA102 ## Probable cause The pilots encounter with an obstructed dip in the landing surface during the landing roll out on a remote airstrip, which resulted in a noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed a tailwheel equipped airplane on a remote airstrip. During the landing rollout, while reducing engine power and holding the control stick fully aft, the airplane encountered an obstructed dip in the airstrip surface. As the airplane rolled through the dip, the pilot was unable to arrest the resulting nose down pitch. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the rudder and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N242BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N242BC), registered now, S/N 534-2010, built 2011 (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-C1G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1g) (registry code 42284, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 534-2010 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 1079.9 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2024, 91 hours before - Departed: PAUN, Unalakleet, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: remote strip - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 26, 2025; seat: front; flight hours: 5,913 total, 399 in this make and model, 4,856 as pilot in command, 179 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: AUN, 66 nm away - METAR: PAUN 050456Z AUTO 24010KT 10SM OVC017 09/07 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP138 T00940072 ## 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 20250904012369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250904012369A), Sep 4, 2025: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Unalakleet, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted Landing on a Remote off airport strip. He completed 2 touch and go landings. On 3rd attempt on rollout at low speed aircraft went into a dip… ## Other investigations on N242BC (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 CEN11CA684](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA684), Sep 3, 2011: American Champion 8GCBC (N242BC), Fort Worth, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The certified flight instructor’s improper flare during a simulated emergency landing. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200970. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20150953&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 719 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20188646&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.