# NTSB ANC24FA091: Champion 7GCBC, N8CK, Ninilchik, AK, September 13, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: September 13, 2024, 08:03 local (16:03 UTC) - Place: Ninilchik, AK - Coordinates: 60.083135, -151.0576 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0831&lon=-151.0576&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - Juneau FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195119 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24FA091 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195119/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24FA091 ## Preliminary report On September 13, 2024, about 0803 Alaska daylight time (AKDT), a Champion (Citabria) 7GCBC, N8CK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a family member of both occupants, the pilot and passenger departed Lowell Field Airport (00AK), Happy Valley, Alaska about 0700 to conduct a moose spotting flight. About 0745, a witness, located about 4.5 miles southwest of the accident site, reported seeing the accident airplane flying low overhead, following an off-roading trail, at an altitude between 100-200 ft above ground level (agl) with a crab angle of about 10°. The witness reported that, after passing overhead, the accident airplane flew about 500 ft east of his location, circled a group of four moose that were standing in an open field, then proceeded to fly northbound and out of view. (See figure 1) Figure 1: Chart depicting witness location relative to the accident site About 0803, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) received a 406 Mhz emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal assigned to the accident airplane from a location Southwest of Tustumena Lake. The RCC contacted the Federal Aviation Administration Kenai Flight Service Station, who routed an airplane over the location of the ELT signal to confirm the presence of a downed airplane. The RCC simultaneously dispatched search and rescue personnel to the accident site. (See figure 2) Figure 2: Aerial view of the accident site (NTSB Photo) The airplane came to rest about seven miles southwest of Tustumena Lake in an area of hilly, sparsely forested, tundra-covered terrain. The wreckage exhibited signatures consistent with a high angle, nose down impact. (See figure 3) Figure 3: View of the accident at accident site (NTSB Photo) All the major structures and components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The engine was partially burrowed into the soft, tundra-covered terrain, leaving only the top deck of the engine visible. The aft section of the fuselage protruded upwards from the point of impact at about a 50° angle with the empennage suspended about 12 ft above the ground. The outboard section of the right wing exhibited impact damage. The inboard, forward section of the left wing exhibited compression damage. The aft section of the fuselage exhibited lateral deformation in the direction of the right wing. No preimpact anomalies were observed with the flight control system at the wreckage site. The wreckage will be recovered to a secure facility for further examination. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=21101PK), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8CK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8CK), registered now, S/N 104 (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: 104 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Departed: 00AK, Anchor Point, AK - Destination: 00AK, Anchor Point, AK ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.58 inHg - Observed at: PASX, 24 nm away - METAR: PASX 131556Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM OVC060 09/ A2958 RMK AO2 SLP022 T0089 TSNO ## 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 20240913013289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240913013289A), Sep 13, 2024: Champion 7GCBC, Ninilchik, AK, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Aircraft with two persons aboard, crashed while possibly maneuvering to view wildlife. No survivors. No witnesses observed the aircraft crash. Aircraft… ## Other investigations on N8CK (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 ANC87LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA141), Sep 6, 1987: Champion 7GCBC (N8CK), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC80DAA08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAA08), Mar 2, 1980: Bellanca 7GCBC (N8CK), Chandler Lake, 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.