Fatal NTSB investigations: American Champion 8KCAB

13 cases on aircraft the registry lists as American Champion 8KCAB. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

19952026
Fatal NTSB investigations: American Champion 8KCAB per year, 1995–2026: 13 cases
19951
19981
20041
20052
20101
20111
20141
20171
20201
20212
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('2121000'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB ERA26FA067Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Irvington, ALOn December 13, 2025, about 1145 central standard time, an American Champion Decathlon, N157WB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Roy E. Ray Airfield (5R7), Bayou La Batre, Alabama. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane…Dec 13, 2025 · N157WB · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22FA019Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Marengo, WIThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the steep turn, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Also causal was the pilot’s decision to conduct steep turns without sufficient altitude to…Oct 23, 2021 · N843AC · DestroyedNTSB ERA21FA355Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Rhine, GAA collision with trees during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver for unknown reasons.Sep 12, 2021 · N390PE · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA389Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportChampion 8KCAB · Groton, SDThe pilot’s loss of airplane control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver.Sep 13, 2020 · N83DH · Substantial damageNTSB CEN17WA161Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationChampion 8KCAB · Cancun, MexicoThe accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Mexican government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Mexican government. Further information pertaining to…Apr 14, 2017 · N65SE · DestroyedNTSB ERA14FA093Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Holland, NJThe pilot's continued visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in controlled flight into trees and terrain.Jan 15, 2014 · N469J · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12LA112Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Marysville, OHThe pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient altitude from the terrain while performing low-level aerobatics.Dec 22, 2011 · N161PC · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11FA029Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Sebewaing, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and aircraft control following a loss of engine power after takeoff.Oct 18, 2010 · N105AC · Substantial damageNTSB DEN06FA018Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Calhan, COthe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude, and the resultant stall/spin.Nov 21, 2005 · N70MT · DestroyedNTSB LAX06FA005Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Oroville, CAThe certified flight instructor and the private pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while attempting a return to runway maneuver, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.Oct 10, 2005 · N943D · DestroyedNTSB LAX04FA304Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportAmerican Champion 8KCAB · Prescott, AZThe failure of both pilots to maintain adequate clearance from each other while performing formation aerobatic maneuvers.Aug 28, 2004 · N561ER · 2 aircraft · DestroyedNTSB CHI99LA007Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBellanca 8KCAB · Superior, WIthe pilot not maintaining clearance with the terrain, and his improper decision to enter maneuvers too close to the terrain. Factors contributing to this accident were the aerobatic maneuvers, the trees and the berm.Oct 9, 1998 · N924TA · DestroyedNTSB CHI95FA191Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportChampion 8KCAB · Frankfort, ILthe pilot-in-command's overconfidence in his personal ability in attempting to teach aerobatics, his lack of experience as a flight instructor, and allowing the airplane to get into a position where its never exceed speed and design stress limits were…Jun 21, 1995 · N109AC · Destroyed