American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, February 20, 2023
On February 20, 2023 at about 6:39 pm local time, a 2001 American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, registered N303SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Wiley Post airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing, that resulted in a runway excursion, and an impact with an obstacle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 20, 2023 · about 6:39 pm local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Wiley Post · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB NO SERIES, built 2001 · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N303SB · registry record · serial 887-2001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The rear seat pilot reported that he was showing the front seat passenger the “basic operation” of a tailwheel airplane. During the three-point landing, with the passenger on the flight controls, the pilot verbally “talked him through the basic steps” of the landing. The landing was unsuccessful and a go-around was initiated. The pilot then took control, stabilized the airplane, and then decided land on the remaining runway. After touchdown, the airplane “turned sharply” to the right, the airplane departed the runway, and impacted a runway sign. The airplane remained upright, and the pilot was able to taxi the airplane back to his hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing forward and aft lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot additionally reported that the accident could have been prevented by maintaining “aircraft control at all times.”
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 14, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 7, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Engines AEIO-360-H1B (piston); 150 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17R, 5,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KPWA
Weather report (METAR): KPWA 201753Z 10SM CLR 17/07 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP094 T01670072 10167 20100 51001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on April 20, 2023. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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.