American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB accident near Davenport, Washington, May 2, 2002
On May 2, 2002 at about 7:30 pm local time, a American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB, registered N86AA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davenport, Washington (Davenport 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
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions during takeoff. Gusting wind was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2002 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, Washington · Davenport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion (Acac) 8KCAB
- Registration
- N86AA · no longer on the register · serial 773-96
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was taking off from runway 23 in 20 to 25 knot winds with gusts to 30 plus from 200 degrees. Just as the aircraft was lifting off the runway, a strong gust of wind picked up the left wing. The pilot tried to lower the left wing, however the wing continued to raise and the right wing contacted the runway surface. The aircraft cart wheeled onto its nose then struck the tail, coming to rest upright off the right side of the runway. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,645 hours in all; 174 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 12, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-H1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 68S Davenport WA
- Destination: S10 Chelan WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,126 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 19 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from GEG, 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N86AA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.