# NTSB CEN20LA389: Champion 8KCAB, N83DH, Groton, SD, September 13, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 13, 2020, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Groton, SD - Coordinates: 45.52861, -98.093055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5286&lon=-98.0931&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101956 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA389 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101956/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101956 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA389 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver. ## 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 8KCAB, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a witness, after takeoff, the pilot accelerated the airplane down the runway in ground effect before pitching the nose up to an estimated 45° angle. The airplane then rolled right and inverted and exited the roll maneuver in a nose-low attitude before impacting the ground. One witness estimated that the roll was initiated between 75 and 100 ft above ground level. Two witnesses reported that the maneuver appeared intentional due to the rapid roll rate. A family member stated that the pilot routinely performed low-level aerobatics in the accident airplane. Examination of the airplane confirmed continuity to all flight control surfaces and no engine or airframe anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot intentionally attempted the aerobatic maneuver, lost control, and was unable to recover given the altitude available. ## Factual narrative On September 13, 2020, about 1100 central daylight time, an American Champion 8KCAB, N83DH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Groton, South Dakota. The commercial pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. According to a witness, after takeoff, the airplane accelerated down the runway in ground effect before the nose pitched up to an estimated 45° angle. The airplane then rolled right and inverted and exited the roll maneuver in a nose-low attitude before impacting the ground. One witness estimated that the roll was initiated between 75 and 100 ft above ground level (agl). Two witnesses reported that the maneuver appeared intentional due to the rapid roll rate. Of three witnesses interviewed, all stated that they did not know of any planned aerobatic maneuvers for the flight. The flight took place as part of a fundraising event sponsored by a group of pilots attempting to raise money to encourage youth interest in aviation. A family member stated that the pilot routinely performed low-level aerobatics in the accident airplane. There were no aerobatic waivers issued for the accident flight or for the fly-in event. The airplane came to rest about 200 yards south of runway 15. The airplane impacted in an upright, nose-low attitude before coming to rest inverted. Both wings, the fuselage, and empennage all sustained substantial damage. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the ailerons, rudder, and elevator. Internal continuity of the engine was established. The propeller blades were sheared flush at the hub. A witness on the ground stated that the engine sounded “healthy” and he did not hear any interruption in power before impact. The postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83DH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83DH), registered now, S/N 786-96, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 8KCAB (No Series) - Registry model: [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (registry code 2121000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 786-96 - Year built: 1997 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Departed: 2E6, Groton, SD - Destination: 2E6, Groton, SD - Airport: 2E6, Groton Muni, runway 15, 2,070 × 140 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15,427 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KABR, 14 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 20200913012439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200913012439A), Sep 13, 2020: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, Groton, SD, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Scenario as told to this investigator by several pilot witness that verified they witnessed pilot and passenger (wife) took off on runway 15, leveled out to… ## Other investigations on N83DH (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 DEN02LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN02LA058), Jun 24, 2002: American Champion 8KCAB (N83DH), Giddings, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot to maintain aircraft control during the landing rollout. A contributing factor was the subsequent inadvertent ground loop of the airplane. ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101956. 6.0 MB in all. - Witness statements (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 300 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11791044&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_family (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11791711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RoC_Family-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11812503&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - FAA email memo (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 296 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11801559&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Examination%20Memo-Rel.pdf - Aerobatic waiver memo (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 209 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11814718&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Aerobatics%20Memo-Rel.pdf - Weather study report (item 6, PDF, 22 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11520424&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN20LA389_weatherstudySuffernfinal-Rel.pdf - Weather attachment 1 (item 7, PDF, 33 pages, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11527931&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=attachment1_metarKABR_5minutedata_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather attachment 2 (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11520434&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=attachment2_GFAimagedata-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11800235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Autopsy memo (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 203 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11800847&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo-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.