# NTSB ANC93LA111: Champion 7ECA, N9597S, Dillingham, AK, July 3, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1993, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.820186, -157.859436 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8202&lon=-157.8594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2377 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2377/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA111 ## Probable cause THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND AND TAKEOFF. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - sand bar - airspeed - improper, pilot in command (cause) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb ## Analysis THE PILOT LANDED ON A GRAVEL BAR TO AWAIT BETTER WEATHER. THE GRAVEL BAR WAS 375 FEET LONG. THE PLANE NORMALLY REQUIRED A TAKEOFF DISTANCE OF 400 FEET. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE TAKEOFF COULD BE MADE BASED UPON THE 5 TO 10 MILE PER HOUR HEADWIND, HAVING NO PASSENGERS, AND 3/4THS FUEL. AT THE END OF THE GRAVEL BAR THE PLANE'S INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. NORMAL LIFTOFF AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE PLANE ROSE SEVERAL FEET THEN SETTLED INTO THE RIVER AND FLIPPED OVER. ## Factual narrative On July 03, 1993, at 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Citabria 7ECA airplane, N9597S, registered to and operated by the pilot in command, crashed during takeoff from a gravel bar on the Tik Chik River, approximately 20 miles north of the Tik Chik Narrows Lodge. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The intended destination for the personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was a remote fishing site on the Yukon River. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone interview, the pilot in command reported the following information to the NTSB investigator in charge: He landed on the gravel bar to wait for improving weather. The gravel bar was approximately 375 feet in length. His airplane normally requires about 400 feet of runway, "but there was a 5 to 10 mile per hour (mph) headwind and I had no passengers and 3/4 gas". Part of the gravel bar became covered with a few inches of water from the rain and rising river which slowed his takeoff roll. By the end of the gravel bar his airspeed was about 40 mph, with about 50 mph required. The plane rose a few feet then settled into the river and flipped over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9597S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9597S-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 7ECA-324, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 324 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Warner, Carl E. - Registered owner: Warner, Carl E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1993, 60 hours before - Departed: AKN, KING SALMON, AK - Destination: YUKON RIVER, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 270 total, 270 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °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 19930703025189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930703025189A), Jul 3, 1993: Bbavia STC7, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to depart short gravel bar with standing water. Lifted briefly and settled into river. Flipped over. ## Other investigations on N9597S (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 ANC87LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA062), Apr 24, 1987: Champion 7ECA (N9597S), Theodore River, 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.