# NTSB ANC92LA183: Champion 7GCBC, N1654G, Fairbanks, AK, September 22, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1992, 16:30 local (Sep 22, 1992, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.810684, -147.719284 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8107&lon=-147.7193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5822
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC92LA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5822/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA183

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION IN ACCESSING THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY LENGTH AND SNOW CONDITIONS.  FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW BANK AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH SKIPLANE OPERATIONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

THE PILOT HAD ARRIVED AT THE REMOTE STRIP 11 DAYS EARLIER HAVING 40 HOURS TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL AND 6 HOURS IN PAST 90 DAYS.  THE SNOW WITH A DEPTH OF 2 FEET HAD BEEN PLOWED 10 FEET WIDE ON HALF THE RUNWAY AT THE DEPARTURE END.  DURING THE SKI TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE BECAME PREMATURELY AIRBORNE ON THE PLOWED BERM AND NOSED OVER WHEN ITS RIGHT SKI DUG INTO THE SNOW PILE SHOULDER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1654G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1654G), registered now, S/N 123, built 1968 (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: 123
- Airframe hours: 2123
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Theodore A. Wicken
- Registered owner: Theodore A. Wicken
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 1992, 27 hours before
- Departed: BLAIR LAKE, AK
- Destination: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK
- Airport: Blair Lakes Landing Strip

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,180 total, 40 in this make and model, 1,060 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 30 °F

## 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 19920921042219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920921042219A), Sep 21, 1992: Bbavia 7GCBC, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Ski struck snowbank taking off from partially plowed strip. Aircraft nosed over breaking right wing spar.

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.