# NTSB WPR23LA075: American Champion 8GCBC, N749PJ, Payson, AZ, December 26, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 26, 2022, 11:50, time zone not recorded - Place: Payson, AZ · Airport - Coordinates: 34.256836, -111.33925 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2568&lon=-111.3393&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106497 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106497/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106497 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA075 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while on final approach to land, the airplane encountered a wind gust and “rotated the aircraft” off runway centerline. He attempted to realign the airplane with the runway prior to landing, to no avail. During the landing roll, the airplane veered left. The pilot attempted corrective action; however, the airplane subsequently exited the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N749PJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N749PJ), registered now, S/N 581-2017, built 2017 (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: 581-2017 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 233 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Agl Aviation And Management LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 2022, 9 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PAN, Payson, runway 24, 5,504 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 30, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,465 total, 232 in this make and model, 4,332 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: KPAN - METAR: METAR KPAN 261855Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 17/M04 A3026 RMK AO2 PWINO TSNO= ## 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 20221226019969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221226019969A), Dec 26, 2022: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Payson, AZ, Substantial damage. Airman was performing a flight for personal proficiency. He has performed multiple traffic patterns to perform a series of 3 point and wheel landings on runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106497. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14924435&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14924854&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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.