# NTSB ANC12CA057: Champion 7GCB, N466RV, Tyonek, AK, June 23, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 22, 2012, 22:00 local (Jun 23, 2012, 06:00 UTC) - Place: Tyonek, AK - Coordinates: 60.991664, -151.65834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9917&lon=-151.6583&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84074/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84074 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA057 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall while maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GCB, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=21101PC), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Champion 7GCB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=21101PC), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7GCB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=21101PC), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7GCB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101PC), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was flying his tailwheel-equipped airplane at 400 feet above ground level when he spotted two bears in a swamp. He said that, as he was turning left to look at the bears, the nose of the airplane dropped rapidly, and the airplane descended vertically. During the pilot's efforts to recover from the aerodynamic stall, the airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was flying his tailwheel-equipped airplane at 400 feet above ground level when he spotted two bears in a swamp. He said that as he was turning left to look at the bears, the nose of the airplane dropped rapidly, and the airplane descended vertically. During the pilot's efforts to recover from the aerodynamic stall, the airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N466RV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N466RV-2018-02-16), registration cancelled 2018-02-16, S/N 166, 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: 166 - Airframe hours: 2003 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hicks Stephen J - Registered owner: Hicks Stephen J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 2012, 62 hours before - Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 210 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 15 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg ## 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 20120622013369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120622013369A), Jun 22, 2012: Champion 7GCB, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. The airman was conducting low level observation of wildlife during conditions of gusty wind. The airman allowed the airplane to stall, and was unable to… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84074. 822 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 822 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375305&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.