# NTSB ANC00LA135: Champion 7GCBC, N9654S, Sparrevohn, AK, September 14, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 2000, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Sparrevohn, AK - Coordinates: 61.410686, -149.170471 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4107&lon=-149.1705&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 51002 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51002/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were variable winds, and a crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot started a southwesterly takeoff run from a 1,500 feet long, remote sand bar. Just after lift-off, as the airplane started to climb, a strong gust of wind from the right lifted the right wing, and rolled the airplane about 90 degrees. As he applied full right aileron to correct for the roll, the airplane's wings leveled, but that it was in an uncontrolled decent. The airplane continued to descend and struck an embankment. It sustained substantial damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 2000, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Champion 7GCBC airplane, N9654S, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from an off airport site, about 40 miles east of Sparrevohn, Alaska, at 61 degrees 01 minutes north latitude, 154 degrees 08 minutes west longitude. The solo certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1200, from the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on October 1, the pilot reported that he started a southwesterly takeoff run from a 1,500 feet long remote sand bar. He said that just after lift-off, as the airplane started to climb, a strong gust of wind from the right lifted the right wing, and rolled the airplane about 90 degrees. He said that as he applied full right aileron to correct for the roll, the airplane's wings leveled, but that it was in an uncontrolled decent. The airplane continued to descend and struck an embankment. It sustained substantial damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9654S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9654S-2012-08-22), registration cancelled 2012-08-22, S/N 52, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCBC - Registry model: [Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 52 - Airframe hours: 2897 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gary R. Brown - Registered owner: F. Mark Krupinski - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 1999, 128 hours before - Departed: BCV, BIRCHWOOD, AK - Destination: STONY RIVER, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 4,500 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000914041979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000914041979A), Sep 14, 2000: Bbavia 7GCBC, Lime Village, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Immediately after lift off from a gravel bar, a gust of wind/wind shear caused the aircraft to roll violently. The pilot elected to continue the induced… 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. --- 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.