American Champion (Acac) 8GCBC accident near Whiting, Vermont, October 10, 1999
On October 10, 1999 at about 5:00 pm local time, a American Champion (Acac) 8GCBC, registered N403AC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whiting, Vermont. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight passenger briefing, which resulted in control interference.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1999 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Whiting, Vermont
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion (Acac) 8GCBC
- Registration
- N403AC · registry record · serial 403-99
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After a normal takeoff roll, the airplane lifted off the ground and immediately yawed to the left. The pilot stated he was unable to correct the yawing by applying right rudder, and said the right rudder travel was 'short and stiff.' As the airplane approached the trees, he pulled the power back and attempted to land. During the landing, the airplane's right main landing gear was sheared and the right wing and fuselage were damaged. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions with the airplane. Additionally, examination of the airplane's rudder system revealed that the rudder travel was in accordance with the airplane's type certificate data sheet. After the accident, the pilot stated that the passenger was 6-feet 2-inches tall, and while he did not feel the passenger pushing on the rudder pedals, it was possible that the passenger may have had his feet on the rudder pedals. Additionally, he stated he always briefed passengers about not touching the control stick; however, he did not brief passengers about the rudder pedals.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 60 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 2,412 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,350 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from BTV, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.