# NTSB NYC96LA161: American Champion 8KCAB, N2552Z, Pittsburgh, PA, August 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1996, 16:18 local (20:18 UTC) - Place: Pittsburgh, PA - Coordinates: 40.469913, -79.950714 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4699&lon=-79.9507&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39225 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39225/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA161 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain alignment with the runway, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during the aborted landing, which resulted in the inadvertent stall/mush, and collision with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - aborted - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The private pilot had performed eight touch and go landings with a certified flight instructor, and was approved for solo flight in the airplane. The pilot then performed two solo touch and go landings. During a third touch and go landing, the airplane was aligned to the left of the runway. When the pilot attempted to correct back to the runway, the right wing struck the runway, and the airplane ground looped. The winds were reported calm at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1996, at 1618 eastern daylight time, an American Champion 8-KCAB, N2552Z, was substantially damaged during an aborted landing at the Allegheny County Airport, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at the Allegheny County Airport (AGC), about 1600. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated he had performed eight touch and go landings with a certified flight instructor, who then approved the pilot for solo flight in the airplane. The pilot then taxied out solo, and performed two touch and go landings on Runway 28. The pilot further stated: "...I attempted a three-point landing. The aircraft was aligned on the center line and positioned for the landing when the tail wheel touched down. The aircraft veered sharply to the left. I applied full right correction, but it had no effect. I was headed for the runway marker, so I applied full power to swing the tail, and regain sufficient airspeed for flight. The aircraft climbed approximately 10-15 feet, turning to the right. The right wing tip caught and [the airplane] ground looped..." A witness at the airport stated that she observed the airplane land in the grass to the left of Runway 28. She further stated: "...The plane became airborne and then banked to the right, as if the pilot was trying to regain the runway, and stalled hitting the right wing on the runway..." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's statement, examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failure of the airplane's systems. The inspector further stated: "...The pilot and witness statements are similar in that both confirm that the airplane was to the left of the landing runway as it was about to touch down, and that either a stall (witness statement), or insufficient flying speed (pilot statement) prevented a safe recovery from the rejected landing..." The AGC winds were reported calm at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2552Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2552Z-1999-02-17), registration cancelled 1999-02-17, S/N 348-77 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: American Champion (ACAC) 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 34877 - Airframe hours: 785 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Allegheny Aerobatics Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 31, 1996, 5 hours before - Departed: AGC - Destination: AGC - Airport: AGC, Allegheny County, runway 28, 6,500 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 173 total, 19 in this make and model, 88 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AGC ## 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 19960803020719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960803020719A), Aug 3, 1996: Bbavia 8KCAB, Pittsburgh, PA, Substantial damage. Landed off side runway. Tried correct by going around and regain runway. Stalled. Wing hit ground. Ground looped. 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.