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GAA18CA400

2018-07-06 · WAUNAKEE, Wisconsin, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PVT

Current FAA registration · N114JM

Make / Model
AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8GCBC
Year of manufacture
2006 · 12 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING O-360-C1G (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
3 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20060412
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A03BE3

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

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

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. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2018_GAA18CA400.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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