# NTSB ANC87LA168: Champion Aeronca TL, N3446, White Mountain, AK, September 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 26, 1987, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: White Mountain, AK
- Location: 64.6824° N, 163.4128° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of White Mountain, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.6824&lon=-163.4128&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC87LA168
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4929/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA168

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED UPON TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED AND GROUNDLOOPED. THE ACFT HAD BEEN LANDED ON A GRAVEL BAR AND THE LANDING AREA WAS LOOSE GRAVEL AND ROCKS. NO MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ACFT WERE REPORTED. THE PLT STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE BOUNCED LANDING RESULTED FROM THE LARGER ROCKS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3446 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION AERONCA TL
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: L100718
- Airframe hours: 4150
- Engines: CONTINENTAL A-75 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: John Lahman
- Registered owner: John Lahman
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1975, 20 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 524 total, 19 in this make and model, 419 as pilot in command, 69 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19870926056399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870926056399A), Sep 26, 1987: Aronca 65TL, White Mountains, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft was damaged when it hit a stump while landing on a gravel bar. Pilot elected to fly aircraft out.

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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