American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC accident near Payson, Arizona, November 11, 2022
On November 11, 2022 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2021 American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, registered N615DD, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Payson, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with insufficient takeoff distance which, resulted in a runway overrun and collision with vegetation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2022 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, built 2021 · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N615DD · registry record · serial 615-2021
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, he was attempting to takeoff from an approximate 800 ft long unimproved dirt, curved and slightly upslope backcountry airstrip that had about 200 ft that was unusable. The pilot configured the airplane for a short field takeoff toward the downhill. The pilot reported that when the airplane reached the end of the airstrip, the airplane did not have sufficient speed to fly and lifted off the ground slightly, then settled back to the ground. The airplane traveled off the end of the airstrip and collided with vegetation. The right wing and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven terrain › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 148 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 13, 2022; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390-A1B6 (piston); 125 hours total
- Operator: Vectored Solutions INC
The flight
- Departed from: KSDL Scottsdale AZ at 1:45 pm
- Destination: RCM Payson AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KSDL, 37 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSDL 112153Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 19/M06 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP153 T01941056=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 30, 2022. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | 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.