# NTSB WPR25LA149: American Champion 8KCAB, N538EE, Mojave, CA, May 2, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 2, 2025, 14:38 local (21:38 UTC) - Place: Mojave, CA - Coordinates: 35.05693, -118.14831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0569&lon=-118.1483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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): 200123 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200123/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200123 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during climb out from an aborted landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Champion 8KCAB, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2121000), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he was having difficulty maintaining the runway centerline. He therefore decided to abort the landing and added power. During takeoff, he noticed the airplane had difficulty climbing and was drifting off the runway heading. Subsequently, he turned back toward the runway and subsequently the airplane when into a stall and impacted nose down. During the accident sequence, substantial damage was sustained to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact failures or malfunctions of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N538EE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N538EE), registered now, S/N 1205-2022, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB - Registry model: [American Champion 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (registry code 2121000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-h1b) (registry code 41883, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1205-2022 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 166.7 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-H1B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2025 - Departed: VNY, Van Nuys, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KMHV, Mojave Air and Space Port/Rutan Field, runway 26, 7,049 × 104 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 9,170 total, 179 in this make and model, 9,170 as pilot in command, 19.1 in the last 90 days, 5.2 in the last 30 days, 1.2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KMHV, 8 nm away - METAR: KMHV 022120Z AUTO 26006KT 10SM CLR 28/M00 A2993 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250502006129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250502006129A), May 2, 2025: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, Mohave, CA, Substantial damage. On may 2, 2025, the pilot of American Champion Aircraft was performing touch and go landings in Mohave air & Space Port (mhv). At the last touch and go before… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200123. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18940852&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 791 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18940774&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR25LAA149%20Accident%20Photos-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.