# NTSB CEN14CA158: American Champion 8GCBC, N63HE, Chisago City, MN, March 10, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 10, 2014, 13:19 local (18:19 UTC) - Place: Chisago City, MN - Coordinates: 45.36972, -92.894996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3697&lon=-92.8950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88911/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88911 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA158 ## Probable cause The unsuitable landing area encountered by the pilot due to wet soft snow conditions that resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had flown his airplane for about 1/2 hour when he decided to land on a snow-covered lake that he had previously landed on numerous times during this winter. The pilot said the landing felt normal and he maintained the flare as the airplane skis started to touch down. After touchdown, the airplane continued to ski for 40 feet until it nosed over. He exited the plane, walked the tracks of the skis, and did not find any objects that could have caused the accident. The pilot said that the temperature was about 40 degrees F. He indicated that the snow was sticky and that the skis traveled over a soft spot before the nose over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot had flown his airplane for about 1/2 hour when he decided to land on a snow-covered lake that he had previously landed on numerous times during this winter. The pilot said the landing felt normal and he maintained the flare as the airplane skis started to touch down. After touchdown, the airplane continued to ski for 40 feet until it nosed over. He exited the plane, walked the tracks of the skis, and did not find any objects that could have caused the accident. The pilot said that the temperature was about 40 degrees F. He indicated that the snow was sticky and that the skis traveled over a soft spot before the nose over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N63HE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63HE), registered now, S/N 452-2004, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [American Champion 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8gcbc) (registry code 2121004) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C1G](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c1g) (registry code 42284, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 452-2004 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 742 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 2013 - Departed: OEO, OSCEOLA, WI - Destination: Chisago City, MN - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 812 total, 219 in this make and model, 696 as pilot in command, 23.2 in the last 90 days, 11.5 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: KOEO, 9 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20140310001859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140310001859A), Mar 10, 2014: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Chisago City, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting a landing in the snow on little green lake near Chisago City, MN with wheel penetration ski equipped aircraft. According to the pilot… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88911. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Communication Summary - Phone Call with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411025&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Communication%20Summary%20-%20Phone%20Call%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.