American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1996
On August 3, 1996 at about 8:18 pm local time, a American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB, registered N2552Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 alignment with the runway, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane during the aborted landing, which resulted in the inadvertent stall/mush, and collision with the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1996 · about 8:18 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Allegheny County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB
- Registration
- N2552Z · no longer on the register · serial 34877
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot had performed eight touch and go landings with a certified flight instructor, and was approved for solo flight in the airplane. The pilot then performed two solo touch and go landings. During a third touch and go landing, the airplane was aligned to the left of the runway. When the pilot attempted to correct back to the runway, the right wing struck the runway, and the airplane ground looped. The winds were reported 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
- Flight time: 173 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 88 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 785 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 31, 1996; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-H1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGC at 8:00 pm
- Destination: AGC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from AGC
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.