American Champion (Acac) 8GCBC N249SF

Summary

On 26 June 2001 at about 21:15 local time, a American Champion (Acac) 8GCBC registered N249SF, operated by Nighthawk Aerial Advertising, was involved in an accident near Paris, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 June 2001 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Paris, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Cox Field Airport (PRX)

Coordinates

33.6606, -95.5405

Aircraft

American Champion (Acac) 8GCBC

Registration

N249SF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Nighthawk Aerial Advertising

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Paris → Paris

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW01LA155

Nobody was injured.

the excessive pull up by the passenger along with the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision leading to a loss of control during the takeoff initial climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight instructor was demonstrating the airplane to a prospective buyer, who claimed to have 900 hours flight time, but had not taken the private pilot checkride. During the briefing, the flight instructor told the potential buyer/passenger that he could try making the takeoff and that she "would take over if necessary." During the initial takeoff climb, the passenger pulled up excessively to a nose high attitude of approximately 60 degrees and froze on the controls. When he relinquished the controls, the flight instructor was unable to recover the aircraft. The aircraft sank at a fast rate, impacted the ground and bounced. Subsequently, the aircraft cart-wheeled and came to a stop inverted on the grass about 200 feet off the runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.