No fatalities

Hard Landing During Simulated Emergency Landing Damages Tailwheel Aircraft

Fort Worth, TX, United States

On September 3, 2011, an AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Worth, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The certified flight instructor’s improper flare during a simulated emergency landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A CFI and private pilot experienced a hard landing during a simulated emergency landing, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing's rear spar.

Incident Overview

A certified flight instructor (CFI) was providing instruction to a private pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the flight, the CFI demonstrated a simulated emergency landing. As the airplane slowed, it made a hard landing, during which the right main landing gear and the right wing struck the runway surface.

Post-Accident Examination

After the hard landing, the airplane was flown back to the private pilot's home airfield without further incident. A postaccident examination of the damaged wing was conducted by the airplane's manufacturer. The examination revealed that the rear spar had sustained substantial damage as a result of the hard landing.

Aircraft and Flight Details

The aircraft involved was a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The flight was conducted under the supervision of a CFI, who was demonstrating emergency procedures to a private pilot. No further details about the aircraft type, registration, or specific location were provided in the source.

Conclusion

The incident occurred during a training exercise, with the hard landing causing structural damage to the wing. The aircraft was safely returned to its base after the event.

Contributing factors

Instructor/check pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Sept 2011 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC accident near Fort Worth, TX?

A CFI and private pilot experienced a hard landing during a simulated emergency landing, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing's rear spar.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Sept 2011 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Sept 2011 involved an AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC, at Fort Worth, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The certified flight instructor’s improper flare during a simulated emergency landing.