# NTSB ERA21LA007: Champion 8KCAB, N787AC, Ellijay, GA, October 5, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 5, 2020, 14:55 local (18:55 UTC)
- Place: Ellijay, GA · Airport runway
- Coordinates: 34.628634, -84.526203 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6286&lon=-84.5262&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA - FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102098
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102098/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102098
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA007

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in a bounced landing and a subsequent noseover.

## 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: [Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2110612), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=2110612), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2110612), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2110612), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane and reported that his final approach speed was excessive. Upon touchdown, the airplane ballooned and then settled back onto the runway at an angle. It subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N787AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N787AC-2022-01-27), registration cancelled 2022-01-27, S/N 831-99, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 8KCAB
- Registry model: [Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-8kcab) (registry code 2110612) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 831-99
- Year built: 1999
- Airframe hours: 1268
- Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B 180 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2020, 43 hours before
- Departed: PDK, Atlanta, GA
- Destination: 49A, Ellijay, GA
- Airport: 49A, Gilmer County Airport, runway 03, 3,607 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review March 1, 2020; seat: left; flight hours: 4,930 total, 278 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observed at: KDNN, 18 nm away
- METAR: KDNN 051855Z AUTO 01004KT 10SM CLR 23/10 A3016 RMK AO2

## 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 20201005018309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201005018309A), Oct 5, 2020: Champion 8KCAB, Ellijay, GA, Substantial damage. On October 05, 2020, at approximately 1500 local time a pilot operating a 1999 Champion model 8KCAB attempted to land N787AC on runway 3 at Gilmer County…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102098. 10.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11555657&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20ERA21LA007_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 604 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11555571&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20statement%20ERA21LA007_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11554792&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA21LA007-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.