American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC accident near Rimrock, Washington, September 20, 2014
On September 20, 2014 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2003 American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC, registered N817DH, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Rimrock, Washington (Tieton State airport). 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 failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff from a rough runway surface which resulted in an off-airport forced landing just beyond the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 2014 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rimrock, Washington · Tieton State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- American Champion Aircraft 7GCBC NO SERIES, built 2003 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N817DH · registry record · serial 1341-2003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and pilot-rated passenger of the tailwheel equipped airplane planned to stop at three back country strips before returning to their base airport. The pilot opted not to land at either of the first two planned stops, because she was uncomfortable with the winds at the time of her arrival at each. The third intended destination airport was situated at the shore of a lake. The turf runway was oriented approximately perpendicular to the shoreline, terminated at the shoreline, and was sloped uphill away from the lake. Tall trees and rapidly rising terrain at the other end of the runway resulted in the runway being effectively one way in and one way out, over the lake. The winds were light and variable, and the pilot landed uneventfully at that airstrip. She taxied to the far end, turned around, and began the takeoff roll downhill, towards the lake. She brought the tail up, continued the takeoff roll, and the airplane became prematurely airborne after "rolling over one of the bumpy spots" on the runway. The pilot reported that she tried to fly in ground effect to build airspeed, but lowered the nose too far. The propeller struck the runway, which degraded the airplane performance, and prevented the airplane from successfully climbing. The pilot determined that at that point, she was too far down the runway to safely abort the takeoff on the remaining runway, so she sought a spot straight ahead on the exposed lakebed on which to land the airplane. The pilot steered the airplane towards what appeared to be a dry area that was clear of debris. The airplane struck the dry upslope on the main wheels, and the left main gear impacted a tree stump. The airplane then nosed over to the inverted position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Abnormal runway contact during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Miscellaneous/other during initial climb
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,598 hours in all; 55 in this make and model; 204 in the last 90 days; 58 in the last 30 days; 3,522 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 14, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 365 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2014; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 365 hours total
- Operator: Rainier Flight Services
The flight
- Departed from: 4S6 Rimrock WA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: KRNT Renton WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,509 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from KYKM, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.