# NTSB GAA20CA011: Champion 8GCBC, N632K, Henrys Lake, ID, October 12, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 12, 2019, 14:18 local (20:18 UTC) - Place: Henrys Lake, ID - Coordinates: 44.67361, -111.424446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6736&lon=-111.4244&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100409 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100409/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100409 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing on an off-airport field, he conducted a three-point attitude, soft-field landing. The landing surface was softer than originally expected, so he attempted to recover by adding power. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane reported that, during landing on an off-airport field, he conducted a "3-point attitude landing and performed a soft field landing." The landing surface was softer than originally expected, so he attempted to recover by adding power. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N632K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N632K), registered now, S/N 433-2001, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 8GCBC (No Series) - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 433-2001 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 852.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ralph R Pocock Farms Inc - Registered owner: Ralph R Pocock Farms Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2019 - Departed: RXE, Rexburg, ID - Destination: RXE, Rexburg, ID - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 264.7 total, 264.7 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 4.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KWYS, 13 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 20191012019539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191012019539A), Oct 12, 2019: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Island Park, ID, Substantial damage. Our office was notified on October 12, 2019, of an aircraft accident of N632K that occurred at approximately 14:18 local time, in a field in Island Park, ID.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100409. 817 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 246 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.