American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC accident near Chisago City, Minnesota, March 10, 2014
On March 10, 2014 at about 6:19 pm local time, a 2004 American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC, registered N63HE, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Chisago City, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unsuitable landing area encountered by the pilot due to wet soft snow conditions that resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2014 · about 6:19 pm local time
- Place
- Chisago City, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 8GCBC NO SERIES, built 2004 · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N63HE · registry record · serial 452-2004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had flown his airplane for about 1/2 hour when he decided to land on a snow-covered lake that he had previously landed on numerous times during this winter. The pilot said the landing felt normal and he maintained the flare as the airplane skis started to touch down. After touchdown, the airplane continued to ski for 40 feet until it nosed over. He exited the plane, walked the tracks of the skis, and did not find any objects that could have caused the accident. The pilot said that the temperature was about 40 degrees F. He indicated that the snow was sticky and that the skis traveled over a soft spot before the nose over. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the landing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Awareness of condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 812 hours in all; 219 in this make and model; 23.2 in the last 90 days; 11.5 in the last 30 days; 696 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 742 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 2013
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OEO Osceola WI at 5:40 pm
- Destination: Chisago City MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from KOEO, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.