American 8KCAB accident near Payson, Arizona, October 4, 1997
On October 4, 1997 at about 2:30 pm local time, a American 8KCAB, registered N69BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Payson 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
Directional control of the aircraft not maintained through the improper use of landing procedures/techniques. A factor in this accident was the pilot's training regarding the proper techniques to be used during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 1997 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Payson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American 8KCAB
- Registration
- N69BP · no longer on the register · serial 763-96
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot lost control of the aircraft as it touched down on the runway and he attempted to straighten the aircraft out by adding power and left rudder. The aircraft began to pull to the right and he decreased power as he realized that the airplane was exiting the runway and heading for some small trees. He said that he never applied the brakes during his landing attempt. He further stated that he was taught to never apply brakes during landing. The pilot was unsure how much power he had added during his attempt to straighten the aircraft out prior to leaving the runway. He stated that he had experienced difficulty with other landings in this aircraft. A witness stated that the weather was clear and the winds were calm at the time of the accident.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,150 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 3,150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 111 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 1997; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT Deer Valley AZ at 2:00 pm
- Destination: E69
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 pm from KGY, 96 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.