# NTSB ANC03LA063: Champion 7GCB, N9897Y, Pilot Point, AK, June 29, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 28, 2003, 16:30 local (Jun 29, 2003, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Pilot Point, AK - Coordinates: 57.633056, -155.731384 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.6331&lon=-155.7314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 57330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57330/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA063 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and his failure to maintain control of the airplane that resulted in the left wing striking the ground during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of wind gusts. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - sand bar ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was landing toward the east on a remote beach area. The pilot said the wind conditions were a 10 to 15 knot wind from the east-southeast, with occasional higher gusts from the south. During the landing roll, the pilot indicated that a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the left wing contacted the sand. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing and the left elevator. ## Factual narrative On June 28, 2003, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Champion 7GCB airplane, N9897Y, sustained substantial damage when it dragged a wing during landing on a beach, about 59 miles east-northeast of Pilot Point, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the King Salmon Airport, King Salmon, Alaska, about 1530. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 30, the pilot reported that he was landing toward the east on the beach at Dry Bay, located on the east side of the Alaska Peninsula. The pilot said the wind conditions were a 10 to 15 knot wind from the east-southeast, with occasional higher gusts from the south. During the landing roll, the pilot indicated that a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the left wing contacted the sand. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing and the left elevator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9897Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9897Y), registered now, S/N 7GCB-117, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCB - Registry model: [Champion 7GCB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcb) (registry code 21101PC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7GCB-117 - Airframe hours: 1830 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ralph D. Cox - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 30, 2003, 30 hours before - Departed: PAKN, KING SALMON, AK - Destination: PILOT POINT, AK - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 130 in this make and model, 4,800 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 115° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - 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 20030628037419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030628037419A), Jun 28, 2003: Bbavia 7GCB, Ugashik, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 28, 2003, a champ, 7GCB registered to and piloted by [privacy data omitted] was involved in an aircraft accident near dry bay Alaska. According… ## Other investigations on N9897Y (2) 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 ANC07LA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA064), Jul 11, 2007: Champion 7GCB (N9897Y), King Salmon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in the right main landing gear collapsing during takeoff. Factors contributing to the accident were rough/uneven terrain, and… - [NTSB ANC92LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA082), May 30, 1992: Champion 7GCB (N9897Y), Snow Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT ON THE STEP AND HE ALLOWED IT TO BECOME AIRBORNE. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY LOST DEPTH PERCEPTION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER RATE OF DESCENT, RESULTING… 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.