What happened
On September 1, 2024, an American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, registration N23BD, crashed near Meeteetse, Wyoming. The flight was being operated under Part 91 regulations for personal use. The mission of the flight was to fly to a specific GPS location in the Shoshone National Forest to spread the ashes of a recently deceased family member.
After arriving at the location and observing family members on the ground, the pilot circled the area and released the ashes. Following the release, the pilot leveled the aircraft and applied power. The pilot reported that the aircraft reached an altitude where it could no longer climb, noting that the airspeed was near stall speed.
ADS-B flight track data confirmed the aircraft departed Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) and flew toward the national forest. The data showed the aircraft began a climb from approximately 8,550 ft MSL toward rising terrain. The final recorded data point showed the aircraft at 9,625 ft MSL with a groundspeed of 63 knots, shortly before the flight track ended near the accident site.
A witness in the area reported hearing a sputtering engine followed by a loud bang and the sound of the aircraft impacting terrain. Black smoke was observed coming from a group of trees following the impact.
The accident resulted in 1 fatal injury and 1 serious injury.
The investigation
The aircraft impacted mountainous terrain at an elevation of 9,850 ft MSL. The wreckage was heavily damaged by a post-impact fire, which destroyed much of the fuel system and the engine's carburetor. The engine remained attached to the airframe, and while the crankshaft showed a slight bend consistent with impact, no scoring was found on the journals or bearings.
Examination of the forward flight control revealed a fracture at the torque tube attachment point, with evidence of melting and solidification consistent with exposure to high temperatures during the post-crash fire.