# Accident 19980630024809A: Bbavia 7GCB, Hope, AK, June 30, 1998 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 30, 1998, 18:30 local time - Place: Hope, AK - Airport: Chickaloon Flats - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 60.8405° N, 149.3991° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8405&lon=-149.3991&mi=10 - Aircraft: N9809Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9809Y-2020-10-31) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Champion 7GCB (registry code 21101PC, https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcb) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7GCB - Reported engine: LYC O320A2B - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 500 total, 8 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA088) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980630024809A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (FROM 19) ON JUNE 30, 1998, ABOUT 1830 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED CHAMPION 7GCB AIRPLANE, N9809Y, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP, ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF HOPE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT/OWNER, AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE MERRILL FIELD AIRPORT, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, ABOUT 1700. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, ON JULY 1, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DEPARTING FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP, ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 1200 FEET LONG. HE STATED THAT WHILE ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE PASSED THROUGH A SMALL STREAM FLOWING ACROSS THE AIRSTRIP, SLOWING THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF RUN. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO BECOME AIRBORNE AND STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE. (FROM .4) THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS DEPARTING FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP, ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 1200 FEET LONG. HE STATED THAT WHILE ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE PASSED THROUGH A SMALL STREAM FLOWING ACROSS THE AIRSTRIP, SLOWING THE AIRPLANE'S TAKEOFF RUN. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO BECOME AIRBORNE AND STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE. (-23) THE PILOT DEPARTED MERRILL FIELD WITH ONE PASSENGER, 30 LBS OF BAGGAGE, AND FULL FUEL TANK AT 40 POUNDS OVER GROSS WEIGHT. AFTER FLYING FOR 1.5 HOURS THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND IN THE CHICKALOON FLATS. HE MADE A LOW PASS OVER AN AREA WITH ESTABLISHED WHEEL MARKS IN THE SILT AND SAND MUD FLAT AREA WITH SOME LIGHT VEGETATION GROWING AT EACH END. HE ESTIMATED THE LANDING AREA AT 1200 FEET IN LENGTH WITH CALM WINDS. SURFACE OF LANDING AREA WAS DAMP SILT AND SAND WITH MARSH GRASS. THE LANDING WAS UNEVENTFUL AND TOOK ABOUT HALF OF THE LANDING AREA TO STOP. THE PILOT BACK TAXIED TO THE SOUTHWEST END OF AREA. PILOT ADMITTEDLY STATED THAT HE COMMENCED TAKE OFF TO ONE NORTHWEST WITHOUT CONDUCTING GOOD GROUND RECONNAISSANCE AND DETERMINING A GO-NO-GO POINT FOR AN ABORTED TAKE OFF. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 800' OF TAKE OFF R OLL WITH 10 DEGREE FLAPS (LANDING GEAR EQUIPPED WITH OVERSIZED TIRES) WITH TAIL WHEEL STILL IN CONTACT WITH GROUND AND ESTIMATED 40-50 KIAS, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED ROTATION WHEN THE NOSE TURNED 15 DEGREES TO THE LEFT WITH A TIDAL GUT AHEAD ABOUT 100 FEET. THE AIRPLANE CLEARED THE HAZARD WITH A 20 FOOT WIDE CREEK BED AHEAD 80 FEET. THE AIRCRAFT TAIL WHEEL NEVER LEFT THE GROUND BUT THE OPPOSITE CREEK BANK IMPACT TORE OFF THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND DAMAGED THE STRUT, AND THE PROPELLER DETACHED AT THE ATTACHMENT FLANGES AND SLICED THROUGH THE LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE COWLING BENDING ONLY ONE BLADE. PILOT DID NOT RECALL RETARDING THE THROTTLE BUT DUE TO DAMAGE OF THE PROPELLER BLADE IT IS ASSUMED THAT HE HAD RETARDED THE POWER AT THE END OF TAKE OFF ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT NOSE LEFT A 30 FEET LONG SUPERFICIAL SCAR IN MARSH GRASS BEFORE COMING TO COMPLETE REST ON LEFT WING TIP. PILOT WAS WEARING SHOULDER HARNESS AND ELT WAS ACTIVATED FROM IMPACT. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC98LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA088), Jul 1, 1998: Champion 7GCB (N9809Y), Hope, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area. Contributing factors were the stream crossing the airstrip and the embankment. ## Other reports on N9809Y (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19890421037829I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890421037829I), Apr 21, 1989: Bbavia 7GCBC (N9809Y), Anchorage, AK, Minor damage. Lost directional control on rollout. Veered off runway. Unable to control with rudder or brakes. No defects found. - [Accident 19750831030869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750831030869A), Aug 31, 1975: Blanca 7GCB (N9809Y), Northway, AK, Substantial damage. Settled into tree at end of lake. Ovr max gross wt 215LBS. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.