Champion 8GCBC accident near Waunakee, Wisconsin, July 6, 2018
On July 6, 2018 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2006 Champion 8GCBC, registered N114JM, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Waunakee, Wisconsin (Private 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tall corn along the edge of the airstrip during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2018 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Waunakee, Wisconsin · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 8GCBC No Series, built 2006 · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N114JM · registry record · serial 481-2006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing at a private grass airstrip, he observed 4-ft-tall corn surrounding the airstrip. He added that, during landing, the aileron spades "nicked a few blades of corn" and that the corn was actually 8 to 10 ft tall. The pilot back taxied and decided to take off. During takeoff, the right wing struck a row of corn, which pulled the airplane into the corn. The left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped to the left. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,240 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,880 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 26, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1G (piston); 898 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6P3 Waunakee WI at 6:55 pm
- Destination: C29 Middleton WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 1,800 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from KRYV, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA18CA400.