- Date
- February 4, 2026, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC)
- Place
- St. George, UT · KSGU
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N9976YChampion 7ECA
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 14, 2026
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FAA SLC FSDO
- FAA report
- 20260204001109A
- Case key
- 202391
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper application of brakes, which resulted in a nose over.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was conducting his third solo landing of the tailwheel-equipped airplane. Upon touchdown, he unintentionally applied pressure to the left heel-brake pedal, and the airplane turned to the left, which the pilot attempted to correct using rudder and brake controls. He reported that the tail struck the ground hard, and he then tried to slow the airplane using brakes, which resulted in the airplane tipping onto its nose. The rudder was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with heel brakes, and the pilot reported that he had never flown the airplane from the front seat prior to the accident flight. He further added that the rear seat, where he typically flew, provided greater braking authority and opined that this unfamiliar configuration also led him to apply excessive brake pressure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9976Y
- Reported as
- Champion 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7ECA-1
- Built
- 1964
- Airframe hours
- 5,312.34
- Engine
- Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Rogue Air LLC
- Registered owner
- Rogue Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2025 · 40 hours before
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- SGU · St George Regional Airport, runway 19, 9,300 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 16, 2026
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 93.2 total · 6 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.41 inHg
- Observed at
- KSGU, 6 nm away
- METAR
- METAR KSGU 041956Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 17/M03 A3041 RMK AO2 SLP291 T01671028=
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2026, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.5 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9976Y · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.