# NTSB WPR12CA041: American Champion 8GCBC, N131PM, Ashton, ID, November 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 20, 2011, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Ashton, ID - Coordinates: 44.124721, -111.45417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1247&lon=-111.4542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82351/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82351 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA041 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s poor decision-making when he decided to land on a snowy grass airstrip, which resulted in an encounter with deep snow during the landing roll and a subsequent nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 70 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/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: 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 student pilot reported that he approached the privately-owned, rough grass airstrip and observed that it was covered with snow. After evaluating the snow’s depth as being only a few inches, the pilot landed. During the landing roll, the airplane decelerated quickly and nosed over, bending the vertical stabilizer, wings, and lift struts. After exiting the airplane, the pilot realized that the snow was between 6- and 8-inches deep. The student pilot’s certified flight instructor reported that he had not endorsed the student’s flight record logbook in over 90 days, and he had not authorized the student to fly to the accident airport. The student was not current in the airplane. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that he approached the privately owned rough grass airstrip and observed that it was covered with snow. After evaluating the snow’s depth as being only a few inches, the pilot landed. During rollout, the airplane decelerated quickly and nosed over, bending its vertical stabilizer, wings, and lift struts. Upon exiting the airplane, the pilot ascertained that, in fact, the snow was between 6 and 8 inches deep. The student pilot’s certified flight instructor reported that he had not endorsed the student’s flight record logbook in over 90 days, and he had not authorized the student to fly to the accident airport. The student was not current in the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N131PM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N131PM), registered now, S/N 462-2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 462-2004 - Airframe hours: 656 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2011, 214 hours before - Departed: NONE, Ririe, ID - Destination: NONE, Ashton, ID - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, No Name, runway 02, 2,500 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 44; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 150 total, 150 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F ## 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 20111120026019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111120026019A), Nov 20, 2011: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Ashton, ID, Substantial damage. On November 20, 2011 at approximately 1200 MST near Ashton Idaho a student pilot landed on a snow covered private grass landing strip on which the depth of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82351. 469 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360830&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Email Hart, CFI to Pollack, NTSB (item 2, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20Hart,%20CFI%20to%20Pollack,%20NTSB-Redacted.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.