# NTSB ANC26LA095: Champion 7DC, N4542E, Copper Center, AK, September 1, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open
- Date: September 1, 2026, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Copper Center, AK · Richardson Highway - MP 46
- Coordinates: 61.26948, -145.28092
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2695&lon=-145.2809&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203711
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA095
- Latest NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203711/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA095

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7DC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=21101NB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4542E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4542E), registered now, S/N 7DC-144 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7DC
- Registry model: [Champion 7DC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7dc) (registry code 21101NB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 7DC-144
- Airframe hours: 3790.1
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2026, 35 hours before
- Departed: Palmer, AK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: NONE, Highway
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 18 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: PAVD, 29 nm away
- METAR: METAR PAVD 012156Z 09018G26KT 10SM CLR 19/01 A2971 RMK AO2 PK WND 09028/2144 SLP058 T01890006 $

## Other investigations on N4542E (1)

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 FTW90FA059](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA059), Jan 28, 1990: Aeronca 7DC (N4542E), El Paso, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: POWER LOSS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR ASSEMBLY AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO CORRECT KNOWN DEFICIENCIES. FACTORS WERE CONTAMINATED FUEL, PARTIALLY BLOCKED FUEL SCREEN, FOULED SPARK PLUGS, 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.

---
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.