# NTSB CEN20CA358: Champion 8GCBC, N133PJ, Three Rivers, MI, August 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 19, 2020, 22:00 local (Aug 20, 2020, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Three Rivers, MI - Coordinates: 41.958889, -85.592224 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9589&lon=-85.5922&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101849 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA358 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101849/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101849 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA358 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a taxiway sign after landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in a hurry after landing and exited the runway early (before the taxiway). He stated that he was not paying attention and the airplane collided with a taxiway sign. The airplane nosed over, substantially damaging the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N133PJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N133PJ), registered now, S/N 486-2006, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 8GCBC (No Series) - 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: 486-2006 - Year built: 2006 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Aico - Registered owner: Aico - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Mendon, MI - Destination: HAI, Three Rivers, MI - Airport: HAI, Three Rivers Muni Dr Haines - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 867 total, 47 in this make and model, 829 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F - Observed at: HAI ## 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 20200819016279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200819016279A), Aug 19, 2020: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Three Rivers, MI, Substantial damage. On August 19, 2020 at 2000 local time, an American champion 8GCBC aircraft, N133PJ, registered to and operated by a private pilot, received substantial damage… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 11, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101849. 4.3 MB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 251 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.