# NTSB WPR26LA114: American Champion 8GCBC, N636DB, Carefree, AZ, March 2, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 1, 2026, 19:20 local (Mar 2, 2026, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Carefree, AZ · Skyranch Airport - Coordinates: 33.818613, -111.89812 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8186&lon=-111.8981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - 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: FAA FSDO - Scottsdale AZ - NTSB case key (mKey): 202583 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202583/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202583 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA114 ## 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 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) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not installed/available (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail gear attach section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023221/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) - [Prior to flight: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he landed the tailwheel equipped airplane at a backcountry airstrip, and while taxiing on rough terrain, the tailwheel spring failed and the tailwheel assembly separated from the airplane. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited to inspect and retrieve the tailwheel assembly. He then decided to depart, using engine power to lift the tail off the ground for the take-off roll, and return to his home airport where he planned to land and hold the airplane’s tail off the ground as long as possible. The pilot completed a successful wheel landing, but as the airplane slowed during the landing roll it tipped forward and nosed over, coming to rest inverted on the dirt runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage frame, wings, vertical stabilizer, ailerons, elevators, rudder, and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that he may have inadvertently applied more main-wheel braking pressure than necessary while trying to keep the tail off the ground, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. Other than the previously damaged tailwheel assembly, the pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N636DB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N636DB), registered now, S/N 636-2023, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-390-A1B6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-a1b6) (registry code 42407, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 636-2023 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Lycoming IO-390A 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Vectored Solutions Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2026, 17 hours before - Departed: Payson, AZ - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 18AZ, SkyRanch, runway 24, 2,000 × 60 ft, dirt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review August 24, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,520 total, 300 in this make and model, 3,250 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KDVT, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KDVT 020153Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/02 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP103 T02780017 ## 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 20260301003989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260301003989A), Mar 1, 2026: American Champion 8GCBC, Carefree, AZ, Substantial damage. The pilot of an American Champion denali scout equipped with 29-inch tundra tires performed maintenance on the aircraft’s mixture control system. Following 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=202583. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20097842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA114_Pilot_Signed_NTSB_Form_6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 6 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20109272&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA114-Photos-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement - phone interview (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20115150&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20WPR26LA114_Redacted-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.