# NTSB ANC90LA004: Champion 7KCAB, N5222X, Montague Island, AK, October 8, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 1989, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Montague Island, AK
- Location: 60.1092° N, 147.3411° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montague Island, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.1092&lon=-147.3411&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 18, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5315
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC90LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5315/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA004

## Probable cause

SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: ROUGH TERRAIN, GUSTY WINDS, HIGH VEGETATION, AND TREES.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not possible
  - ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT HE WAS LANDING ON AN UNIMPROVED/ROUGH SANDBAR WHEN THE ACDNT OCCURRED.  HE STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 50 FT, WHEN ROUGH TERRAIN & A SLIGHT GUST OF WIND CAUSED IT TO BOUNCE SIDEWAYS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE RIGHT WINGTIP HIT SMALL BUSHES, WHICH YAWED THE ACFT TO THE RIGHT. IT THEN VEERED INTO ALDERS & SMALL TREES. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS FROM 010 DEG AT 10 GUSTING 15 KTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5222X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5222X-2018-05-03), registration cancelled 2018-05-03, S/N 223, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 223
- Airframe hours: 1400
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: John Kagerer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 1989, 60 hours before
- Departed: ANCHORAGE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 624 total, 624 in this make and model, 583 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 19891008039369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891008039369A), Oct 8, 1989: Bbavia 7KCAB, Montague Island, AK, Substantial damage. During low level flight aircraft right wing struck trees causing the airplane to crash on a sandbar.

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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