Champion 8KCAB accident near Wahiawa, Hawaii, August 28, 2013
On August 28, 2013 at about 3:08 am local time, a 2009 Champion 8KCAB, registered N413JJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Wahiawa, Hawaii (Wheeler Army Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine and airframe did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2013 · about 3:08 am local time
- Place
- Wahiawa, Hawaii · Wheeler Army Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 8KCAB, built 2009 · all 8KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N413JJ · no longer on the register · serial 1092-2009
- 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, shortly after he completed an aerobatic maneuver and while the airplane was in cruise flight about 4,000 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot initiated a turn back toward the nearest airport. When he realized that the airplane would be unable to reach the airport, he initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and then came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane the following day revealed that there was fuel in the header tank, but the quantity of fuel in the main tanks could not be determined because the airplane was inverted. Several days after the accident and during the airplane recovery, a small amount of fuel was observed in each main tank. It could not be determined if fuel had leaked from the tanks while the airplane was inverted. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was test run at various power settings with no anomalies noted.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,160.6 hours in all; 157.3 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 1,946 as pilot in command; 626.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 14, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 840 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 2014; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO 360 41B (piston); 840 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HNL Honolulu HI at 2:55 am
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 6,507 ft by 294 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 2:58 am from PHHI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on February 18, 2015. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report (Ei MVP-50P) | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Electronic Devices - Attachment 1 - Tabular Data (Csv) (Ei MVP-50P) | data file | Download |
| 4 | Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Record of Conversation - Mechanic | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Record of Conversation - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Pilot Logbooks | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Fuel Invoice Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Airplane Manufacturer Specifications | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 10 | POH Decathlon Performance | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Engine Run Video | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 12 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 13 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.