# NTSB LAX98LA004: American 8KCAB, N69BP, Payson, AZ, October 4, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 1997, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Payson, AZ - Coordinates: 34.190494, -111.168998 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1905&lon=-111.1690&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 9, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29972 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29972/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA004 ## Probable cause Directional control of the aircraft not maintained through the improper use of landing procedures/techniques. A factor in this accident was the pilot's training regarding the proper techniques to be used during landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - improper use of procedure, pilot in command (cause) - improper transition/upgrade training, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot lost control of the aircraft as it touched down on the runway and he attempted to straighten the aircraft out by adding power and left rudder. The aircraft began to pull to the right and he decreased power as he realized that the airplane was exiting the runway and heading for some small trees. He said that he never applied the brakes during his landing attempt. He further stated that he was taught to never apply brakes during landing. The pilot was unsure how much power he had added during his attempt to straighten the aircraft out prior to leaving the runway. He stated that he had experienced difficulty with other landings in this aircraft. A witness stated that the weather was clear and the winds were calm at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 1997, at 0730 hours mountain standard time, an American 8KCAB, N69BP, collided with bushes adjacent to the runway following an on-ground loss of control while landing at Payson, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The private pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight was a personal flight operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated in Phoenix, Arizona, at 0700. An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Inspector examined the aircraft and talked with the pilot at the request of the Safety Board. He said the pilot reported that when he touched down, the aircraft was straight. After he set the tail wheel down, the aircraft pulled right. The pilot said he applied left rudder and the aircraft came back toward the center of the runway. The airplane began to pull to the right again, so the pilot applied power and left rudder to no avail. He decided to decrease the power as the airplane began to roll down the hill, skidding into the trees. The pilot told the FAA inspector that he never applied brakes, and that he was taught to never use the brakes for landing. The pilot was unsure how much power he applied to correct the initial drift to the right. The pilot also stated that he has had other difficult landings in this airplane. The pilot reported in his written statement to the FAA that he must have relaxed somewhat on the left rudder, because the aircraft "again went hard right." At this point, he said he began to initiate a go-around and realized that he couldn't make it as he was heading so far to the right. A witness to the accident reported that as the airplane began its touchdown on runway 24, the left wing was high, and that caused the right main tire to contact the runway first. The aircraft then veered to the left, then right, then left, and finally right. It continued a right turn, eventually exiting the runway and colliding with trees approximately 75 feet north of the paved runway. Additionally, he noted that the weather was clear and the winds were calm at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N69BP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69BP-1998-08-11), registration cancelled 1998-08-11, S/N 76396 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American 8KCAB - Registry model: [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (registry code 2121000) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 763-96 - Airframe hours: 111 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roger Parks - Registered owner: Ben Bunch & Roger Parks - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 1997, 36 hours before - Departed: DVT, DEER VALLEY, AZ - Destination: E69 - Airport: E69, Payson Airport, runway 24, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,150 total, 105 in this make and model, 3,150 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 4 knots - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KGY, 96 nm away 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.