# NTSB ANC11CA017: Champion 7GCBC, N5160X, Nenana, AK, March 17, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 16, 2011, 17:15 local (Mar 17, 2011, 01:15 UTC)
- Place: Nenana, AK
- Coordinates: 64.648612, -148.556106 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6486&lon=-148.5561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 78567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA017
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78567/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78567
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA017

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable off-airport landing site, which resulted in a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=21101PK), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=21101PK), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Champion 7GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=21101PK), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=21101PK), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was landing a wheel-equipped airplane on a frozen, snow-covered river when the main landing gear wheels encountered soft snow and the airplane nosed over, causing substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was landing a wheel-equipped airplane on a frozen, snow-covered river when the main landing gear wheels encountered soft snow and the airplane nosed over, receiving substantial damage to both wings and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5160X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5160X), registered now, S/N 166, built 1969 (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: 166
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Baker Adam W
- Registered owner: Baker Adam W
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Departed: PANN, Nenana, AK
- Destination: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 373 total, 55 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## 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 20110316003679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110316003679A), Mar 16, 2011: Champion 7GCBC, Nenana, AK, Substantial damage. Mr. Baker landed several times on the Nenana river, on his return trip to fairbanks he discovered he needed to relieve himself and would not make it to…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78567. 628 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 628 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345747&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.