# NTSB ANC04LA041: Champion 7GC, N8529E, Wasilla, AK, April 19, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 2004, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.571666, -149.540283 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5717&lon=-149.5403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 59095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59095/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA041 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot which resulted in a loss of directional control during the takeoff roll, and subsequent collision with a ditch. A factor contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The owner/student pilot was receiving a 90-day flight currency check from a flight instructor. The student pilot reported that an annual inspection of the airplane had just been completed. He said he performed an engine run-up, taxied to the active runway, and maneuvered the airplane into takeoff position. Shortly after he initiated the takeoff roll, the airplane began to pull to the left. He indicated he applied right rudder, but could not prevent the airplane from continuing to the left. At an airspeed of about 35 to 40 mph, he applied right aileron, and lifted the left main wheel off the ground. The airplane began to track to the right, but when he lowered the left wheel to the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the left and departed the left side of the runway. The airplane collided with a ditch and received damage to the propeller, the left main landing gear strut, and structural damage to the left wing. Following the accident, the student pilot/owner said that a mechanic briefly examined the left wheel and left brake. The mechanic did not discover a mechanical malfunction at that time. A METAR at the time of the accident was reporting calm wind conditions. ## Factual narrative On April 19, 2004, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Champion 7GC airplane, N8529E, sustained substantial damage when it departed the runway and collided with a ditch during the takeoff roll at the Wasilla Airport, Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the owner/student pilot. The student pilot and the certificated commercial pilot/flight instructor were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on April 20, the student pilot reported that an annual inspection of the airplane had just been completed. He said he occupied the front seat of the airplane, and was receiving a 90-day flight currency check from the flight instructor. He reported that he performed an engine run-up, taxied to the active runway, and maneuvered the airplane into takeoff position on runway 21. Shortly after he initiated the takeoff roll, the airplane began to pull to the left. He indicated he applied right rudder, but could not prevent the airplane from continuing to the left. At an airspeed of about 35 to 40 mph, he applied right aileron, and lifted the left main wheel off the ground. The airplane began to track to the right, but when he lowered the left wheel to the ground, the airplane veered sharply to the left and departed off the left side of the runway. The airplane collided with a ditch and received damage to the propeller, the left main landing gear strut, and structural damage to the left wing. Following the accident, the student pilot/owner said that a mechanic briefly examined the left wheel and left brake. The mechanic did not discover a mechanical malfunction at that time. At 1536, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Wasilla was reporting, in part: Wind, Calm; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, few at 11,000 feet; temperature, 46 degrees F; dew point, 22 degrees F; altimeter, 29.79 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8529E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8529E-2013-05-14), registration cancelled 2013-05-14, S/N 7GC-88, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GC - Registry model: [Champion 7GC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gc) (registry code 21101N2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7GC-88 - Airframe hours: 1996 - Engines: Lycoming O-290D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas C. Covington - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 3, 2003, 2 hours before - Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK - Airport: PAWS, Wasilla, runway 21, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 51; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; last flight review June 24, 2003; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,500 total, 130 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command - Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 193 total, 193 in this make and model, 173 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: PAWS ## Other investigations on N8529E (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 ANC75DAG45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75DAG45), Oct 3, 1974: Champion 7GC (N8529E), Chitina, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC71DAD02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC71DAD02), Aug 21, 1970: Champion 7GC (N8529E), Yakutat, AK, substantial damage 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.