No fatalities

Runway Excursion During Landing Roll-Out Results in Gear Collapse and Wing Damage

Melbourne, AR, United States

On December 1, 2012, an AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB operated by Christine Dawe was involved in an aviation accident near Melbourne, AR. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the 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

During landing roll-out, the airplane weathervaned right; the pilot applied left rudder, causing a left veer and runway departure. The right main landing gear collapsed, leading to right wing contact with ground and substantial damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot provided a statement describing a landing incident. She reported that the touchdown was on-speed and she performed a three-point landing. During the roll-out, the airplane began to weathervane toward the right side of the runway.

Pilot Actions and Outcome

To correct the weathervane, the pilot applied left rudder. This caused the airplane to veer to the left, and it departed the paved runway while traveling at a slow speed. As the airplane left the runway surface, the right main landing gear collapsed.

Damage Assessment

The collapse of the right main landing gear resulted in the right wing contacting the ground. This contact caused substantial damage to the wing structure. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Dec 2012 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB accident near Melbourne, AR?

During landing roll-out, the airplane weathervaned right; the pilot applied left rudder, causing a left veer and runway departure. The right main landing gear collapsed, leading to right wing contact with ground and substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Dec 2012 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Dec 2012 involved an AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB, operated by Christine Dawe, at Melbourne, AR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing.