What happened
On August 31, 2025, at approximately 11:00 Pacific daylight time, an American Champion 8KCAB aircraft, registration N15WJ, was involved in an accident near Jamesburg, California. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use as a scenic flight.
The pilot and a pilot-rated passenger were maneuvering over a canyon area at altitudes between 1,5 00 and 2,000 feet above ground level (agl) under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with 10 statute mile visibility. While the passenger was at the controls, the aircraft began to descend despite the passenger advancing the throttle to full power. The pilot attempted to manipulate the throttle, but the engine provided no response, and the aircraft continued to lose airspeed and altitude.
In response to the loss of power, the pilot initiated a precautionary landing on rough terrain. During the landing sequence, the aircraft struck a tree and came to rest on sloped ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot and passenger sustained 2 minor injuries, and there were 0 fatalities.