# NTSB CEN11CA684: American Champion 8GCBC, N242BC, Fort Worth, TX, September 3, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2011, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Worth, TX - Coordinates: 32.987777, -97.318885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9878&lon=-97.3189&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82014 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA684 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82014/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82014 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA684 ## Probable cause The certified flight instructor’s improper flare during a simulated emergency landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis A certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing instruction to a private pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the CFI’s demonstration of a simulated emergency landing, the airplane made a hard landing, and the right wing struck the runway surface. A postaccident examination revealed that the rear spar was substantially damaged during the hard landing. ## Factual narrative A certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing instruction to a private pilot in a tailwheel equipped airplane. During the CFI’s demonstration of a simulated emergency landing, the airplane's speed got slow and made a hard landing with the right main landing gear and right wing striking the runway surface. The airplane was then flown back to the private pilot’s home airfield without further incident. A postaccident examination of the damaged wing by the airplane’s manufacturer, revealed that the rear spar was substantially damaged during the hard landing. ## 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 - Airframe hours: 47 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Unknown, January 3, 2010 - Departed: T67, Hicks, TX - Destination: T67, Hicks, TX - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: AFW, Alliance, runway 34L, 8,220 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 30, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,400 total, 12 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 51; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 16, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 109 total, 10 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: AFW ## 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 20110903023979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110903023979A), Sep 3, 2011: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Ft Worth, TX, Substantial damage. On 09/03/2011, N242BC, an American champion 8GCBC (scout), landed hard and struck the right wing while conducting pattern work at afw airport. According to the… ## 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 ANC25LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA102), Sep 5, 2025: American Champion 8GCBC (N242BC), Unalakleet, AK, substantial damage. 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. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82014. 1.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356911&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - CFI statement (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356912&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=CFI%20statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Damaged rear spar (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356914&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Damaged%20rear%20spar-Master.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.