# NTSB WPR22LA074: American Champion 8GCBC, N58BH, Jordan Valley, OR, January 1, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 1, 2022, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Jordan Valley, OR · private dirt airstrip and mountainous terrain - Coordinates: 43.516389, -117.14 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5164&lon=-117.1400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 104486 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104486/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104486 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA074 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to takeoff on remote snow covered 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) - [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 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); 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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: 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 of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll on snow-covered desert terrain, the airplane broke through the snow, and nosed over. The vertical stabilizer and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N58BH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58BH), registered now, S/N 568-2015, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C1G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1g) (registry code 42284, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 568-2015 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2021, 673 hours before - Destination: Caldwell, ID - Airport: NA, Succor Creek Airstrip - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 29, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,325 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10,325 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 18 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KEUL, 23 nm away - METAR: KEUL 011756Z AUTO 04003KT 10SM CLR M08/M12 A3037 RMK AO2 SLP327 T10831122 11083 21200 51028 FZRANO ## 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 20220101000159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220101000159A), Jan 1, 2022: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Homedale, ID, Substantial damage. During a southernly takeoff from succor creek airstrip, the aircraft encountered a snow drift. Upon contact with the snowdrift the aircraft flipped over onto… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104486. 7.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13110996&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Bob%20Hannah%20NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 691 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13102572&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20WPR22LA074-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. --- 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.