Champion 8KCAB N83DH

Summary

On 13 September 2020 at about 16:00 local time, a Champion 8KCAB registered N83DH was involved in an accident near Groton, South Dakota, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 September 2020 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Groton, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Groton Muni (2E6)

Coordinates

45.5286, -98.0931

Aircraft

Champion 8KCAB

Registration

N83DH

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Groton → Groton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA389

2 people died.

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a witness, after takeoff, the pilot accelerated the airplane down the runway in ground effect before pitching the nose up to an estimated 45° angle. The airplane then rolled right and inverted and exited the roll maneuver in a nose-low attitude before impacting the ground. One witness estimated that the roll was initiated between 75 and 100 ft above ground level. Two witnesses reported that the maneuver appeared intentional due to the rapid roll rate. A family member stated that the pilot routinely performed low-level aerobatics in the accident airplane. Examination of the airplane confirmed continuity to all flight control surfaces and no engine or airframe anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot intentionally attempted the aerobatic maneuver, lost control, and was unable to recover given the altitude available.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.