# NTSB ANC05LA149: Champion 7EC, N4384C, Wasilla, AK, September 22, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 2005, 19:10 local (Sep 22, 2005, 03:10 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.77861, -149.593048 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7786&lon=-149.5930&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62539 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62539/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering over wildlife, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent collision with trees. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was maneuvering the airplane in the vicinity of a moose with an airspeed of about 50 to 60 knots on a CFR Part 91 personal flight, when he inadvertently stalled the airplane. The pilot said that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane received structural damage to wings and fuselage when it collided with trees. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2005, about 1910 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Champion 7EC airplane, N4384C, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during an uncontrolled descent while maneuvering in a remote area, about 12 miles north-northwest of Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Wasilla Airport, Alaska, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) air safety investigator (ASI), on September 26, the pilot reported that he was maneuvering the airplane in the vicinity of a moose with an airspeed of about 50 to 60 knots. The pilot indicated that the left wing stalled, and the airplane then descended into the trees. The passenger notified search and rescue personnel. The pilot said that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane received structural damage to wings and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4384C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4384C-2015-05-19), registration cancelled 2015-05-19, S/N 7EC-410, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7EC - Registry model: [Champion 7EC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7ec) (registry code 21101NM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7EC-410 - Airframe hours: 2030 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert D. Rasmussen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2005, 11 hours before - Departed: PAWS, Wasilla, AK - Destination: Wasilla, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 603 total, 563 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: PAWS, 12 nm away ## 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 20050921024409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050921024409A), Sep 21, 2005: Bbavia 7EC, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was in a turn at approximately 600 feet altitude, looking for moose, when the airplane stalled. Pilot was unable to recover from the stall before… 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.