Champion 7GCBC accident near Big Creek, Idaho, August 1, 2018
On August 1, 2018 at about 6:15 pm local time, a 1973 Champion 7GCBC, registered N57477, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Big Creek, Idaho (Big Creek 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 directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2018 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Big Creek, Idaho · Big Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC No Series, built 1973 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N57477 · no longer on the register · serial 517-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot reported that during the landing roll on the grass/dirt runway after a cross-country flight, he applied the wheel brakes, and the airplane immediately veered to the left. Despite the application of brakes and rudder control, the pilot was unable to regain directional control as the airplane travelled off the left side of the runway, over a water sprinkler system, and through a fence before coming to rest. The pilot reported that the left brake line had been breached during the accident sequence. The line was replaced, and testing of the left brake revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the airport's runway found it to be in good condition with no holes or defects that would prevent a normal landing. Thus, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- 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
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,688 hours in all; 1,403 in this make and model; 8.3 in the last 90 days; 2.7 in the last 30 days; 2,452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 5, 2018; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 1,898 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N/A Cascade ID at 6:10 pm
- Destination: U60 Big Creek ID
- Runway 19, 3,550 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from U60, 41 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statement (FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.