On February 13, 2004, an American Champion (acac) 8GCBC (registration N186AC) was involved in an aviation accident near Sunburg, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper in-flight decision to land off-airport. A factor to the accident was the snow covered ditch. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot conducting aerial photography of Minnesota farms landed on a gravel road due to a sudden need to use the bathroom. During landing rollout, while maneuvering to avoid a sign, the right wheel entered a snow-filled ditch, causing the aircraft to nosed over and sustain substantial damage.
Incident Overview
The pilot was on a flight to take aerial photographs of several farms in Minnesota. While cruising, the pilot experienced a sudden urge to use the bathroom and decided to land on a nearby gravel road. The landing was otherwise uneventful until the rollout phase.
Sequence of Events
During the landing rollout, the pilot noticed a sign on the left side of the road. In an attempt to avoid striking the sign, he maneuvered the aircraft. This action caused the right wheel to enter a ditch that was full of snow. The pilot reported that the wheel "got sucked into the ditch". Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the ditch and nosed over. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.
Aircraft Configuration
The airplane was equipped with an extended range fuel system, increasing its maximum endurance to approximately 7 hours. At the time of the accident, the flight had been in progress for about 5 and a half hours.