# NTSB WPR26LA174: American Champion 7GCBC, N400KB, Big Water, UT, May 1, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 30, 2026, 18:29 local (May 1, 2026, 00:29 UTC) - Place: Big Water, UT · Open terrain - Coordinates: 37.045909, -111.9384 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0459&lon=-111.9384&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 1, 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): 202931 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA174 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202931/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202931 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA174 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and exceedance of the airplanes critical angle of attack while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in a subsequent stall and impact with trees during stall recovery. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101PL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a low altitude flight locating cattle. During a turn to the right, the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. While recovering from the stall, the airplane’s left wing impacted a tree, which resulted in loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. Both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N400KB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N400KB), registered now, S/N 1234-97, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 7GCBC - Registry model: [American Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1234-97 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 3531.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 20, 2026 - Departed: CDC, Cedar City, UT - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,404.6 total, 610.5 in this make and model, 1,318.2 as pilot in command, 196.5 in the last 90 days, 67.6 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KPGA, 25 nm away - METAR: METAR KPGA 010053Z AUTO 05010KT 10SM CLR 22/M09 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP069 T02171089 ## 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 20260430006729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260430006729A), Apr 30, 2026: American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, Big Water, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot in command states during a phone interview that they were performing low altitude flight in support of cattle round up in a rural area. At… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202931. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20492170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20492079&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20492246&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.