# NTSB GAA18CA400: Champion 8GCBC, N114JM, Waunakee, WI, July 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2018, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Waunakee, WI - Coordinates: 43.169998, -88.470001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1700&lon=-88.4700&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97714 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97714/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97714 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA400 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tall corn along the edge of the airstrip during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [American Champion 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2121004), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing at a private grass airstrip, he observed 4-ft-tall corn surrounding the airstrip. He added that, during landing, the aileron spades "nicked a few blades of corn" and that the corn was actually 8 to 10 ft tall. The pilot back taxied and decided to take off. During takeoff, the right wing struck a row of corn, which pulled the airplane into the corn. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing at a private grass airstrip, he observed corn that was about 4 ft high surrounding the airstrip. He added that during landing, the aileron spades "nicked a few blades of corn", and that the corn was actually 8 to 10 ft high. The pilot back taxied and decided to take off. During takeoff, the right wing struck a row of corn, which pulled the airplane into the corn, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N114JM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N114JM), registered now, S/N 481-2006, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 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: 481-2006 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 898 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C1G 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 3, 2018 - Departed: 6P3, Waunakee, WI - Destination: C29, Middleton, WI - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 06, 1,800 × 40 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review August 26, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,240 total, 131 in this make and model, 5,880 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.40 inHg - Observed at: KRYV, 11 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 20180706009209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180706009209A), Jul 6, 2018: American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, Waunakee, WI, Substantial damage. The pilot of N114JM landed at a private landing strip at the address of 5765 cty rd q, in Waunakee, Wisconsin with permission from the owner of the landing… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 16, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97714. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 187 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.