American Champion 8KCAB N15WJ

Summary

On 31 August 2025 at about 18:00 local time, a American Champion 8KCAB registered N15WJ was involved in an accident near Jamesburg, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

31 August 2025 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Jamesburg, California, United States

Nearest airport

Salinas Muni (SNS)

Coordinates

36.3449, -121.6132

Aircraft

American Champion 8KCAB

Registration

N15WJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

1999

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salinas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA272

2 people had minor injuries.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On August 31, 2025, about 1100 Pacific daylight time, an American Champion 8KCAB Super Decathlon 177, N3357T, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Jamesburg, California. The pilot and pilot rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that they were on a scenic flight, maneuvering over a canyon area between 1,500 to 2,000 ft above ground level (agl) with clear skies and no turbulence. With the pilot-rated passenger on the controls, she leveled off about 2,000 ft agl, and then commented that the airplane “wanted to keep descending.” As directed by the pilot, she advanced the throttle to full power, but the airplane continued to descend. She maintained the airplane’s heading while the pilot manipulated the throttle, but there was no response from the engine and the airplane continued to descend and lose airspeed. The pilot then initiated a precautionary landing onto rough terrain where the airplane struck a tree and came to rest on sloped terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.