20250831018879A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Champion 7GCBC · Sutton, AK · August 31, 2025

Date: August 31, 2025 · 14:00 local
Place: Sutton, AK
Airport: King Ranch
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5267X
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC25LA100
Reported as: Champion 7GCBC
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 587 total487 in this make and model57 in the last 90 days

N5267XRegistered now · Champion 7GCBCS/N 192 · Built 1969 Airframe modelChampion 7GCBC Engine modelLycoming O-320-A2BReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On August 31, 2025, at approximately 12:30 AKST, a citabria aircraft impacted mountainess terrain outside of Sutton Alaska. The aircraft experienced severe turbulence while attempting to traverse a mountain pass. The aircraft became uncontrollable and came to rest at approximately 2500 feet elevation.

As the FAA filed it

ON AUGUST 31, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:30 AKST, A CITABRIA AIRCRAFT IMPACTED MOUNTAINESS TERRAIN OUTSIDE OF SUTTON ALASKA. THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED SEVERE TURBULENCE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TRAVERSE A MOUNTAIN PASS. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND CAME TO REST AT APPROXIMATELY 2500 FEET ELEVATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC25LA100Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSutton, AKThe airplane’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.Aug 31, 2025 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N5267X · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19960817023139AGo Round (Aborted VFR) · Kenai, AKToo high and fast to land on remote strip. Began belated go around. Struck trees on climbout. Strip only 800FT longAug 17, 1996 · Substantial damage Incident 19920812043439ITo Aborted (Fixed Wing) · Nondalton, AKPilot aborted takeoff roll. Right landing gear struck a mound of dirt and broke.Aug 12, 1992 · Minor damage