Champion 8GCBC N114JM

Summary

On 6 July 2018 at about 21:00 local time, a Champion 8GCBC registered N114JM was involved in an accident near Waunakee, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 July 2018 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Waunakee, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Private (PVT)

Coordinates

43.1700, -88.4700

Aircraft

Champion 8GCBC

Registration

N114JM

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Waunakee → Middleton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA400

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tall corn along the edge of the airstrip during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.