# NTSB CEN22LA028: American Champion 8GCBC, N125WB, Greeley, CO, October 29, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 29, 2021, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Coordinates: 40.437417, -104.63322 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4374&lon=-104.6332&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104206
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104206/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104206
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA028

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll.

## 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [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)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during landing with a slight crosswind, he was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane ground looped to the right, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. He reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident may have been prevented with better control of the rudder and differential braking.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N125WB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N125WB), registered now, S/N 505-2008, built 2008 (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: 505-2008
- Year built: 2008
- Airframe hours: 1525
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 2, 2021, 55 hours before
- Departed: BJC, Broomfield, CO
- Destination: GXY, Greeley, CO
- Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld County, runway 17/35, 10,000 × 100 ft, concrete
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 80; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 24, 2020; seat: center; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,626 total, 32 in this make and model, 32 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KGXY
- METAR: KGXY 291956Z AUTO 09004KT 10SM CLR 21/M01 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02061006

## 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 20211029018329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211029018329A), Oct 29, 2021: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. On October 29, 2021 at 1415 MDT, N125WB experienced a loss of directional control while landing on runway 35 at Greeley Weld County Airport. Upon touchdown,…

## Other investigations on N125WB (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 CEN26LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA303), Aug 28, 2026: American Champion 8GCBC (N125WB), Westminster, CO, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104206. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13051204&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo of airplane's left wing damage (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 319 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13050775&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20of%20Damage-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.

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