American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB accident near Beaumont, Texas, September 18, 2021
On September 18, 2021, a 2001 American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, registered N2468W, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Beaumont, Texas (Beaumont Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor’s failure to maintain aircraft control during the turn to final approach resulting in a rapid descent and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2021
- Place
- Beaumont, Texas · Beaumont Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, built 2001 · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N2468W · registry record · serial 886-2001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported after a 20-minute local flight, he and the flight instructor landed and swapped seats so that the flight instructor could fly a traffic pattern from the front seat. The flight instructor flew a tight traffic pattern and as he turned from a right base leg toward the final approach, the airplane descended rapidly and impacted terrain prior to the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The flight instructor did not recall the accident sequence due to his injuries. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,190 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 112 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 2,150 as pilot in command; 1,160 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 31, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 577 hours in all; 115 in this make and model
- Last flight review: December 5, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2021; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 SER (piston); 1,600 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMT Beaumont TX
- Destination: BMT Beaumont TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13/3, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 7:15 pm from KBMT
Weather report (METAR): KBMT 180015Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT037 29/24 A2994 RMK AO2 T02880238
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 18, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Flight Instructor Aircraft Accident Report - NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Interview with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo of Airplane at Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.