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Atlas / NTSB / SEA07CA042

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event SEA07CA042

2007-01-04 Buckley, Washington, United States None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N186AC

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC

Year of manufacture

1994 · 13 years old at event

TCDS

A21CE · AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT CORP

Engine

LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

3 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19940921

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A156F9

Registrant of record

HARTMAN JAMES R TRUSTEE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to release brake pressure soon enough when his airplane skidded from wet grass onto dry terrain during an off-airport, full-stop landing. A factor was the change in terrain from wet grass to dry ground in the landing area.

Factual narrative

While landing in an open field covered with wet grass, the aircraft's main wheels started to skid when the brakes were applied. When the aircraft came in contact with drier terrain, the increase in braking effectiveness caused the tail wheel-equipped aircraft to nose over. Although the pilot tried to take remedial action by releasing all brake pressure, he was unable to do so soon enough to keep the aircraft from nosing over. While landing in an open field covered with wet grass, the airplane's main wheels started to skid when the brakes were applied. When the airplane contacted drier terrain, the increase in braking effectiveness resulted in the tail wheel-equipped airplane nosing over. Although the pilot tried to take remedial action by releasing all brake pressure, he was unable to do so soon enough to keep the airplane from nosing over. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2007_SEA07CA042.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.