# NTSB WPR26LA095: American Champion 8KCAB, N59SE, Alpine, WY, January 29, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 29, 2026, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Alpine, WY - Coordinates: 43.192069, -111.05635 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1921&lon=-111.0563&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - 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): 202381 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202381/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202381 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA095 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadvertent descent while operating in flat light conditions which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Light condition: flat light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036025/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of visual reference](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402); cases with it: [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/402/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of an uneventful flight, the pilot returned to the departure airport and entered the airport traffic pattern. The pilot stated that after he turned onto the base leg for the runway, he unknowingly lost depth perception and flew into the snow-covered terrain due to the “flat light” conditions. During the accident sequence, the airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer, and both wings. The pilot added that the terrain surrounding his base leg of the traffic pattern was a dry lakebed covered in snow, the sky was overcast, and there were no shadows. He further stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N59SE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1004-2005 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 599.2 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, October 19, 2022 - Departed: 46U, Alpine, WY - Airport: 46U, Alpine, runway 13, 5,827 × 70 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review August 31, 2023; seat: front; flight hours: 3,130.8 total, 217.7 in this make and model, 3,130.8 as pilot in command, 13.8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.39 inHg - Observed at: KAFO, 30 nm away - METAR: METAR KAFO 292135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT036 BKN070 01/M07 A3039 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 20260129010969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260129010969A), Jan 29, 2026: American Chapion Aircraft 8KCAB, Alpine, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that while making base turn for landing he encountered flat light conditions, lost depth preception and descended into the snow on the ground. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202381. 41.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 41.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20091687&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970972&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19970982&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.