American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC accident near Carefree, Arizona, March 2, 2026
On March 2, 2026 at about 2:20 am local time, a 2023 American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, registered N636DB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Carefree, Arizona (Skyranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
<p style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:8pt;line-height:108%;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;"><br /><span style="font-family:'Roboto';background-color:#ffffff;">The pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with a known mechanical defect, and the improper application of the main wheel brakes, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.</span></p>
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 2, 2026 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Carefree, Arizona · Skyranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, built 2023 · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N636DB · registry record · serial 636-2023
- 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 landed the tailwheel equipped airplane at a backcountry airstrip, and while taxiing on rough terrain, the tailwheel spring failed and the tailwheel assembly separated from the airplane. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited to inspect and retrieve the tailwheel assembly. He then decided to depart, using engine power to lift the tail off the ground for the take-off roll, and return to his home airport where he planned to land and hold the airplane’s tail off the ground as long as possible. The pilot completed a successful wheel landing, but as the airplane slowed during the landing roll it tipped forward and nosed over, coming to rest inverted on the dirt runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage frame, wings, vertical stabilizer, ailerons, elevators, rudder, and wing lift struts. The pilot reported that he may have inadvertently applied more main-wheel braking pressure than necessary while trying to keep the tail off the ground, which resulted in the airplane nosing over. Other than the previously damaged tailwheel assembly, the pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Ground handling event during prior to flight
- Part(s) separation from AC during prior to flight
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail landing gear › Not installed/available
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear attach section › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,520 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 24, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 22, 2026; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390A (piston); 150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Payson AZ at 2:25 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from KDVT, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDVT 020153Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 28/02 A2989 RMK AO2 SLP103 T02780017
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident Aircraft Damage
Photograph 2 – Accident Aircraft Damage - Wing
Photograph 3 – Accident Aircraft Damage - Empennage
Photograph 4 – Accident Aircraft Damage Empennage
Photograph 5 – Pre-Accident Flight Separated Tailwheel Assembly
Photograph 5 – Pre-Accident Flight Separated Tailwheel SpringThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement - Phone Interview | PDF, 3 pages | 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.