# NTSB ANC01LA115: Champion 7ECA, N5189X, Palmer, AK, August 20, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2001, 16:30 local (Aug 20, 2001, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.583332, -149.092498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5833&lon=-149.0925&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53075 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53075/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA115 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. A factor associated with the accident was rough/uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The newly certificated private pilot, with one passenger, entered a small valley that he thought would lead into a larger valley. After entering the valley, the terrain began rising, and the pilot initiated a full power climb. The valley became too narrow to turn around, the terrain continued to rise, and the airspeed was decreasing. The pilot was able to make a forced landing uphill, on an area of rough, uneven terrain. After landing, the pilot and his passenger were eventually able to turn the airplane around, facing downhill, in preparation for a takeoff attempt. The pilot said that during the downhill takeoff run, the airplane's main wheels struck a series of large bumps. The pilot said, in part: "...when we hit the bumps, just before takeoff, I accidentally closed the throttle, just as we just fell over a fifty feet cliff." The airplane continued to fall, collided with the valley floor, and sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2001, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Champion 7ECA airplane, N5189X, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from an off airport site located about 10 miles north of Palmer, 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 private pilot received serious injuries, and the one passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local area flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on August 27, the pilot related that the purpose of the flight was to show a friend some Alaskan scenery within an area of mountainous terrain. He said that as the flight progressed, he entered a small valley that he thought would lead into a larger valley. He said that once he entered the valley, the terrain began rising, so he initiated a climb. He added that the valley became too narrow to turn around and the terrain continued to rise, and his airspeed was decreasing. He said that he was able to make a forced landing, uphill, on an area of rough, uneven terrain. He added that after landing, he and his passenger were eventually able to turn the airplane around, facing downhill, in preparation for a takeoff attempt. The pilot said that during the downhill takeoff run, the airplane's main wheels struck a series of large bumps. The pilot said, in part: "...when we hit the bumps, just before takeoff, I accidentally closed the throttle, just as we just fell over a fifty feet cliff." The airplane continued to fall, collided with the valley floor, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5189X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5189X-2002-05-09), registration cancelled 2002-05-09, S/N 687, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 687-7ECA - Airframe hours: 2200 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-CI 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Freedom Avaition LLC - Registered owner: Steven R. Ginnett - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 18, 2001, 50 hours before - Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Destination: MRI, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 79 total, 42 in this make and model, 35 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast ## 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 20010819036209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010819036209A), Aug 19, 2001: Bbavia 7ECA, Wasilla, AK, No damage. (-23) Pilot flew into a box canyon and was unable to outclimb the terrain. He proceeded to land on a slope uphill. The pilot and the passenger got out of the… 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.