# NTSB CEN23LA121: American Champion 8KCAB, N303SB, Oklahoma City, OK, February 20, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 20, 2023, 12:39 local (18:39 UTC)
- Place: Oklahoma City, OK · 17R
- Coordinates: 35.542303, -97.649208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5423&lon=-97.6492&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Will Rogers FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106787
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA121
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106787/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106787
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA121

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, that resulted in a runway excursion, and an impact with an obstacle.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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 8KCAB, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2121000), [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 (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)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/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 8KCAB, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The rear seat pilot reported that he was showing the front seat passenger the “basic operation” of a tailwheel airplane. During the three-point landing, with the passenger on the flight controls, the pilot verbally “talked him through the basic steps” of the landing. The landing was unsuccessful and a go-around was initiated. The pilot then took control, stabilized the airplane, and then decided land on the remaining runway. After touchdown, the airplane “turned sharply” to the right, the airplane departed the runway, and impacted a runway sign. The airplane remained upright, and the pilot was able to taxi the airplane back to his hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing forward and aft lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot additionally reported that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining “aircraft control at all times.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N303SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N303SB), registered now, S/N 887-2001, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 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: 887-2001
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: Lycoming Engines AEIO-360-H1B 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2022
- Airport: PWA, Wiley Post, runway 17R, 5,002 × 75 ft, concrete
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 88; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review May 14, 2022; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,500 total, 800 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observed at: KPWA
- METAR: KPWA 201753Z 10SM CLR 17/07 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP094 T01670072 10167 20100 51001

## 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 20230220001219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230220001219A), Feb 20, 2023: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, Bethany, OK, Substantial damage. On februrary 20, 2023 at approximately 12:53 CST, a 2007 American Champion Aircraft tail dragger bearing the [privacy data omitted], was on a instruction…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106787. 5.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15273045&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15273470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-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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