American Champion 7GCBC accident near Menominee, Michigan, November 26, 2003
On November 26, 2003 at about 4:10 pm local time, a American Champion 7GCBC, registered N297JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Menominee, Michigan (Menominee-Marinette Twin Count airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Phillips screwdriver impacting the left tire on takeoff roll, and the deflated tire which did not allow directional control to be maintained during the subsequent landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 26, 2003 · about 4:10 pm local time
- Place
- Menominee, Michigan · Menominee-Marinette Twin Count · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion 7GCBC
- Registration
- N297JB · registry record · serial 1279-99
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of directional control while landing. The pilot reported that during his takeoff roll he felt a "slight bump" on the left side of the airplane which felt like he ran over something. He reported he disregarded the "bump" and continued the takeoff. Following a local flight he returned to the airport for a landing. He reported that upon landing "an object was hit by the left main tire, a bang was heard from what I assumed was an object hitting the left side of the fuselage." He reported that at the same time, the airplane pulled to the left. He applied "hard" right rudder and power with the intention of taking off. However, he reported, the airplane veered to the right with the right wing contacting the ground. The airplane skidded sideways for about 150 feet coming to rest off the departure end of the runway. During a post accident inspection punctures were found on the inside sidewall of the left tire. A small Phillips screwdriver was found near the point of takeoff.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,100 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 4, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 138.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 2003; 14.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MNM Menominee MI at 3:50 pm
- Destination: MNM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from MNM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.