American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC accident near Big Water, Utah, May 1, 2026
On May 1, 2026, a 1997 American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, registered N400KB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Big Water, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and exceedance of the airplanes critical angle of attack while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in a subsequent stall and impact with trees during stall recovery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2026
- Place
- Big Water, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, built 1997 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N400KB · registry record · serial 1234-97
- 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 conducting a low altitude flight locating cattle. During a turn to the right, the airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. While recovering from the stall, the airplane’s left wing impacted a tree, which resulted in loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain. Both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,404.6 hours in all; 610.5 in this make and model; 196.5 in the last 90 days; 67.6 in the last 30 days; 1,318.2 as pilot in command; 782.8 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 13, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,531.4 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 20, 2026
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 3,540 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CDC Cedar City UT at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from KPGA, 25 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPGA 010053Z AUTO 05010KT 10SM CLR 22/M09 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP069 T02171089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR26LA174.