# NTSB ANC06CA124: Champion 7GCBC, N1655G, Clear, AK, August 20, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 20, 2006, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Clear, AK
- Coordinates: 64.133331, -148.351943
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.1333&lon=-148.3519&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06CA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64403/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA124

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the landing flare, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the trees.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot was landing a wheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport site surrounded by trees during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight.  During the landing flare, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airplane to drift to the left, and the left wing struck a stand of trees, which pivoted the airplane to the left.  The airplane subsequently collided with the ground, and sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.  The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The commercial certificated pilot was landing a wheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport site surrounded by trees during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight.  During the landing flare, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airplane to drift to the left, and the left wing struck a stand of trees, which pivoted the airplane to the left.  The airplane subsequently collided with the ground, and sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.  The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1655G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1655G-2011-05-14), registration cancelled 2011-05-14, S/N 126, built 1968 (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: 126
- Airframe hours: 2664
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ronal W. Smith
- Registered owner: John J. Burns
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2006, 3 hours before
- Departed: FAI, Fairbanks, AK
- Destination: Clear, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2004; flight hours: 3,825 total, 40 in this make and model, 3,729 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20060820017809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060820017809A), Aug 20, 2006: Bbavia 7GCBC, Totatlanika Ri, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] on 08-20-06, N1655G, BL-7-gcbc champion clipped birch trees while landing on an unimproved strip near Totatlanika airport. 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.

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