# NTSB ERA26LA282: American Champion 7GCBC, N291CA, Sanford, ME, July 27, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 27, 2026, 11:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Sanford, ME · Runway
- Coordinates: 43.391512, -70.708522 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3915&lon=-70.7085&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 1, 2026
- 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): 203465
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA282
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203465/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203465
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA282

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing and the flight instructor’s inadequate remedial action, which resulted in a ground loop.

## 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 7GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101PL), [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 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor was providing instruction to the pilot toward a tailwheel endorsement. During their second flight of the day, the flight instructor demonstrated a normal traffic pattern and 3-point landing, after which the pilot flew the subsequent traffic pattern and landing approach. As the pilot attempted a 3-point landing, the airplane touched down with slight drift. The pilot attempted to correct the drift but applied excessive right and then left rudder control inputs. The airplane subsequently ground looped and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The flight instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N291CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N291CA), registered now, S/N 1373-2004, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC
- Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1373-2004
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 3195
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Southern Maine Aviation
- Registered owner: Maya Air Services LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 22, 2026, 39 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: SFM, Sanford Seacoast Rgnl, runway 32, 4,999 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2026; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 17,972 total, 120 in this make and model, 7,797 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2026; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 359.6 total, 0 in this make and model, 275.8 as pilot in command, 20.8 in the last 90 days, 3.7 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: SFM
- METAR: METAR KSFM 271456Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP113 T02390139 58003

## 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 20260727010999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260727010999A), Jul 27, 2026: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Sanford, ME, Substantial damage. During the landing rollout from a 3-point landing the pilot under instruction seeking a tailwheel endorsement overcontrolled the rudder first with a sudden,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203465. 5.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20860976&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA282%20Instructor%20NTSB%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot under instruction aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20899549&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Final_Signed%206120_1_Form_signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 418 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20844561&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA282%20Photo%20Array-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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