# Accident 20110214002319A: American Ch 8GCBC, Soda Springs, ID, February 14, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 14, 2011, 09:55 local time
- Place: Soda Springs, ID
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6872° N, 111.0586° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6872&lon=-111.0586&mi=10
- Aircraft: N885AC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N885AC-2013-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 8GCBC (registry code 2121004, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-C1G (registry code 42284, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1g) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CH 8GCBC
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-C1G
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 5,676 total, 1 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR11LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA137) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110214002319A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED AFTON, WY AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 09:30 FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT.  THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS SEATED IN THE AFT SEAT AND IS A PROPERLY RATED AND ENDORSED TAIL WHEEL PILOT.  THE PILOT WAS A PROPERLY RATED AND ENDORSED TAIL WHEEL PILOT, BUT HAD O HOURS IN THE AIRCRAFT MAKE/MODEL.  AFTER PERFORMIING SOME MANEUVERS TO ALLOW THE PILOT TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRCRAFT, THEY CONTINUED THEIR FLIGHT TO THE NORTHWEST TOWARDS THE MOUNTAINS.  THE FLIGHT EVENTUALLY PROCEEDED INTO AN OPEN VALLEY AND TOOK A SOUTHERLY HEADING.  THE OWNER STATED THAT AT ONE POINT HE ASKED THE PILOT TO CARRY SOME ADDITIONAL ALTITUDE FOR HIS COMFORT LEVEL, AND THE PILOT COMPLIED.  ABOUT 25 MINUTES INTO THE FLIGHT, THE OWNER NOTIFIED THE PILOT OF THE POWER LINES AHEAD AND REQUESTED THAT THEY HEAD BACK TO THE EAST TOWARDS AFTON.  THE OWNER STATED THAT THE PILOT MENTIONED HE WAS "THINKING ABOUT GOING UNDER THE LINES" AND THE OWNER VERBALLY DISAGREED WITH THE INTENDED ACTION.  THE PILOT BEGAN WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A "LAZY CLIMB"  BELIEVING HE WAS WELL CLEAR OF THE LINES.  THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE HIGH TENSION POWER LINES AND IMPACTED A SNOW COVERED HILLSIDE 200-300 YARDS BEYOND THE LINES, APPROXIMATELY .6 MILES INSIDE THE IDAHO BORDER.  IT CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION WITH BOTH WINGS LOCATED ON THE  THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE WAS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE APPROXIMATELY 75 FOOT TALL POWER LINES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR11LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA137), Feb 14, 2011: American Champion 8GCBC (N885AC), Soda Springs, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering at a low altitude in a valley.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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