American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB and American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB mid-air collision near Prescott, Arizona, August 28, 2004
On August 28, 2004 at about 3:31 pm local time, 2 aircraft, American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB (N561ER) and American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB (N562ER), were involved in a mid-air collision near Prescott, Arizona (Ernest A. Love Field). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate clearance from each other while performing formation aerobatic maneuvers.
The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate clearance from each other while performing formation aerobatic maneuvers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2004 · about 3:31 pm local time
- Place
- Prescott, Arizona · Ernest A. Love Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB
- Registration
- N561ER · no longer on the register · serial 934-2003
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB
- Registration
- N562ER · no longer on the register · serial 935-2003
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two identically painted American Champion 8KCAB airplanes (N561ER and N562ER) collided in flight while performing a formation aerobatic hammerhead maneuver. The airport was hosting an airshow where the accident pilots were going to perform a formation aerobatic routine. Witnesses observed the two airplanes practicing the routine on several different occasions during the previous months, and had become familiar with it. They said that when the accident happened, a vertical climb was initiated with both airplanes side-by-side, and at the apex of the maneuver, one or both of the airplanes moved out of their normal positions, and they became stacked one on top of the other. After the airplanes initial contact, witnesses observed several additional contacts as the airplanes fell to the ground. Color transfers, damage patterns, and witness marks found that the propeller of N561ER made multiple contacts to the engine compartment and cockpit of N562ER, while contact between the left lift strut of N562ER and the empennage of N561ER damaged and separated the vertical and horizontal stabilizers of N561ER. An airframe and engine examination of both airplanes revealed no mechanical discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation and control.
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 NTSB's narrative for the American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two identically painted American Champion 8KCAB airplanes (N561ER and N562ER) collided in flight while performing a formation aerobatic hammerhead maneuver. The airport was hosting an airshow where the accident pilots were going to perform a formation aerobatic routine. Witnesses observed the two airplanes practicing the routine on several different occasions during the previous months, and had become familiar with it. They said that when the accident happened, a vertical climb was initiated with both airplanes side-by-side, and at the apex of the maneuver, one or both of the airplanes moved out of their normal positions, and they became stacked one on top of the other. After the airplanes initial contact, witnesses observed several additional contacts as the airplanes fell to the ground. Color transfers, damage patterns, and witness marks found that the propeller of N561ER made multiple contacts to the engine compartment and cockpit of N562ER, while contact between the left lift strut of N562ER and the empennage of N561ER damaged and separated the vertical and horizontal stabilizers of N561ER. An airframe and engine examination of both airplanes revealed no mechanical discrepancies that would have precluded normal operation and control.
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 for the American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,901 hours in all; 371 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,791 as pilot in command; 1,878 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 286.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2004; 39.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 3:18 pm
- Destination: PRC
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PRC, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
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: 6,707 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 4,151 as pilot in command; 2,418 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 264.9 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2004; 26.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PRC Prescott AZ at 3:18 pm
- Destination: PRC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.