American Champion (Acac) 7GCBC accident near Wichita Falls, Texas, September 14, 2008
On September 14, 2008 at about 2:07 pm local time, a American Champion (Acac) 7GCBC, registered N571JH, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Wichita Falls, Texas (Kickapoo Downtown Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain safe flying airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall during the forced landing. Contributing to the accident was the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 2008 · about 2:07 pm local time
- Place
- Wichita Falls, Texas · Kickapoo Downtown Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion (Acac) 7GCBC
- Registration
- N571JH · no longer on the register · serial 1412-2006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot took off on a flight and intended to remain in the traffic pattern. Winds were from 010 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 20 knots. A carburetor icing chart showed the potential for "moderate icing at cruise power or serious icing at descent power." Through a GPS and engine monitoring system, the accident flight was able to be partially reconstructed. Upon takeoff the airplane turned left and entered the downwind leg. As the airplane was rolling out on the downwind, a throttle reduction was recorded. The airplane continued on the south-southwest on the downwind leg for at least 14 seconds. As the airplane approached the base turn, the first recorded attempt to actuate the throttle is recorded as an increase in manifold pressure and spike in fuel flow. Manifold pressure fluctuates as the airplane make the base turn to final. Approximately 3/4 through the base turn, the airplane rolled out and flew a straight approach to the open field. Several witnesses observed the airplane approaching the open field without engine power. After "barely clearing" a transmission wire, the airplane was observed to quickly roll right and impact the ground "nose first." These statements are consistent with the airplane entering a stall/spin. An examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies which would have precluded production of the engine power or the safe operation of the airplane.
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
- Fuel related during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Conducive to carburetor icing › Effect on equipment
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 314 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2008; 6.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CWC Wichita Falls TX at 2:04 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,450 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:05 pm from CWC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.