American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB

Aircraft Manufacturer: American Champion Aircraft

Model: 8KCAB

About the American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB

The American Champion 8KCAB is the most-registered model in American Champion Aircraft's active lineup. The 8KCAB holds more than 400 active registered aircraft. The 8KCAB accounts for about 41% of the manufacturer's active registered fleet. About 80% of all 8KCAB airframes ever entered on the U.S. civil registry remain registered today.

Across recorded general-aviation accidents over the type's FAA-registration exposure, the American Champion 8KCAB shows about 3 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years. In its cohort of same-type, same-engine-class, and seat-range aircraft, the 8KCAB shows a higher accident rate than about a quarter of comparable types. Of 21 recorded 8KCAB accidents, 6 were fatal.

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer American Champion Aircraft
Manufacturer Serial Number 2121000
Model 8KCAB
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Reciprocating
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 1 seat
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Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

90%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


19 exact, 0 recovered, 2 provisional

Methodology
21
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


6 fatal accidents.

28.6% of recorded accidents were fatal.

448
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


7,278

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
0.6%
Exposure
0.8%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.

2010 – 2026 Total 21
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 21 observed): 2010 2, 2011 2, 2012 3, 2014 1, 2016 2, 2017 1, 2021 3, 2022 1, 2023 2, 2025 3, 2026 1. 1 2 3 4 0 2 '10 2 '11 3 '12 1 '14 2 '16 1 '17 3 '21 1 '22 2 '23 3 '25 3 '26
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

8 categories Total 21
Landing 9
Maneuvering 5
Approach 2
Standing 1
Takeoff 1
Initial climb 1
Enroute 1
Emergency descent 1
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 53
Aircraft 22
Personnel issues 20
Environmental issues 8
Not determined 2
Organizational issues 1
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 21
None 11
Fatal 6
Minor 3
Serious 1

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (21)· NUSN (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 41 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Trinidad, CO N2663Z Substantial None Landing unknown
Alpine, WY N59SE Substantial Minor Approach Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Irvington, AL N157WB Substantial Fatal Initial climb unknown
Jamesburg, CA N15WJ Substantial Minor Maneuvering unknown
Mojave, CA N538EE Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Larchwood, IA N5038E Substantial Serious Initial climb Personnel issues, Aircraft
Oklahoma City, OK N303SB Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Hyannis, NE N717DJ Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Knoxville, TN N721SD Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Marengo, WI N843AC Destroyed Fatal Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Beaumont, TX N2468W Substantial Serious Approach Personnel issues, Aircraft
Rhine, GA N390PE Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Not determined, Aircraft
ARGYLE, NY N1182E Substantial Serious Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Rock Springs, WY N7654S Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft
Ellijay, GA N787AC Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
Rainbow City, AL N68555 Substantial None Enroute Aircraft, Not determined
El Dorado, MO N62979 Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Ferguson, FL N157WB Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Stafford, KS N55067 Substantial None Takeoff Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Knoxville, TN N2504Z Substantial Minor Enroute Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft
Cordova, SC N68JK Substantial None Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Freemont Island, UT N8SF Substantial None Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Black Diamond, WA N244SF Substantial Minor Landing Aircraft, Personnel issues
San Pedro, CA N5057G Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Superior, WI N102EC Substantial None Initial climb Environmental issues, Aircraft

Page 1 of 2 (showing accidents 1–25 of 41).

Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.