No fatalities

6 Jul 2018: Champion 8GCBC No Series — WAUNAKEE, WI

WAUNAKEE, WI, United States

On 6 Jul 2018, a Champion 8GCBC No Series was involved in an aviation accident near WAUNAKEE, WI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tall corn along the edge of the airstrip during takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel airplane struck corn during takeoff from a private grass airstrip, causing the left main landing gear to collapse and the airplane to ground loop, resulting in substantial damage.

Event Summary

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that while landing on a private grass airstrip, he observed corn approximately 4 feet high surrounding the strip. During the landing, the aileron spades "nicked a few blades of corn," and the pilot noted that the corn was actually 8 to 10 feet tall.

Sequence of Events

After landing, the pilot back taxied and decided to take off. During the takeoff roll, the right wing struck a row of corn. The impact pulled the airplane into the corn, causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The airplane subsequently ground looped to the left.

Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage.

Mechanical Condition

The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on operation