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Accidents · NTSB ERA21FA355 · Final report

American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB accident near Rhine, Georgia, September 12, 2021

On September 12, 2021 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 2015 American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, registered N390PE, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Rhine, Georgia. 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

A collision with trees during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver for unknown reasons.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 12, 2021 · about 1:30 pm local time
Place
Rhine, Georgia · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, built 2015 · all 8KCABs on the register
Registration
N390PE · registry record · serial 1156-2015
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

A witness, who was a friend of the pilot, stated the pilot had mentioned feeling dizzy and nauseous while performing aerobatics during a flight earlier on the day of the accident and landed due to vomiting. Later that same day, the pilot departed his private airstrip and headed to a nearby field where the witness was located with the intention of searching for birds. While the witness was in the field, the pilot flew past him and circled for a second pass. During the second pass, the pilot descended below the tree line and initiated an aileron roll. However, the pilot abruptly stopped the maneuver halfway through and the aircraft flew into the trees at full engine power. The airplane sustained impact damage to the fuselage, while the instrument panel and cockpit were destroyed. Postaccident examination of the flight control system and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. To what degree the pilot’s symptoms of dizziness and nausea from earlier in the day had resolved, persisted, or progressed at the time of the accident flight is unknown. If the pilot was still feeling unwell at the time of the flight, this may have impaired his ability to execute the aileron roll.

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

  1. Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event

The NTSB's findings

  • Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Unnecessary action › Pilot
  • Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
  • Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 106 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2021; 106 hours since
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming AEIO-390-A1B6 (piston); 106 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
  • Observation at 9:30 am from EZM, 16 miles away

Weather report (METAR): METAR KEZM 120135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/18 A3023 RMK AO2 T01940181

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

8 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 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.

#DocumentWhat it is
1 Memorandum for Record- Pilot's Parents Statement PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
2 Memorandum for Record - Witness PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
3 Aircraft Wreckage Examination PDF, 2 pages · our copy View Download
4 Maintenance Records PDF, 18 pages View Download
5 Toxicological Report PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
6 Autopsy Memorandum for Record PDF, 1 page · our copy View Download
7 Investigative Photos PDF, 4 pages · our copy View Download
8 Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 PDF, 2 pages · our copy View Download

The same 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.