# NTSB WPR26LA096: Champion 7ECA, N9976Y, St. George, UT, February 4, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 4, 2026, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: St. George, UT · KSGU - Coordinates: 37.036926, -113.50961 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0369&lon=-113.5096&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 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 202391 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202391/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202391 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper application of brakes, which resulted in a nose over. ## 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: [Champion 7ECA, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Champion 7ECA, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: [Champion 7ECA, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101NN), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9976Y), registered now, S/N 7ECA-1, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7ECA-1 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 5312.34 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: none; 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= ## 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 20260204001109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260204001109A), Feb 4, 2026: Champion 7ECA, St. George, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting solo touch and go landings. On the final landing the pilot was not accustom to the heal brakes in the front seat. As the pilot use left… ## Other investigations on N9976Y (2) 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. - [NTSB MKC68F0233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC68F0233), Oct 1, 1967: Champion ECA (N9976Y), Jamestown, ND, substantial damage - [NTSB NYC66F0224](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66F0224-201699), Sep 2, 1965: Champion 7ECA (N9976Y), Foxwells, VA, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 14, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202391. 4.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20030519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-6120-Signed-Complete-Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos WPR26LA096 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 265 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20019031&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA096%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.