# NTSB ANC95LA155: Champion 7GCBC, N9033L, Big Lake, AK, September 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 1995, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.460666, -150.090393 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4607&lon=-150.0904&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2729 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2729/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA155 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER RATE OF DESCENT DURING THE APPROACH TO LAND, AND HIS MISJUDGMENT OF ALTITUDE TO FLARE FOR LANDING ON GLASSY WATER. THE GLASSY WATER CONDITION WAS A RELATED FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A LAKE IN A FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE AND WAS PERFORMING A CURVING APPROACH TO GLASSY WATER. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH, THE AIRPLANE DEVELOPED A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT. JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT ADDED ENGINE POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD ON THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FLOAT, LEFT FLOAT STRUT, AND FUSELAGE. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 1995, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Champion 7GCBC, N9033L, crashed during landing on a lake, about 6 miles southwest of Big Lake, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Lake Hood Seaplane base, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1500. The pilot reported that he was landing on 7 Mile Lake in a northeasterly direction and was performing a curving approach to glassy water. During the landing approach, the airplane developed a high rate of descent. Just before touchdown, the pilot added engine power but the airplane experienced a hard landing on the water. The airplane received damage to the left float, left float strut, and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9033L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9033L), registered now, S/N 260-70, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GCBC - Registry model: [Champion 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcbc) (registry code 21101PK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 260-70 - Airframe hours: 1563 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffrey D. Zajicek - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 1, 1995, 4 hours before - Departed: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 480 total, 70 in this make and model, 360 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ANC, 18 nm away ## 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 19950902030479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950902030479A), Sep 2, 1995: Bbavia 7GCBC, Big Lake, AK, Substantial damage. Floatplane crashed on lake. Was making curving approach to glassy water. Reported high sink and hard landing. ## Other investigations on N9033L (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 ANC96LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA155), Sep 15, 1996: Champion 7GCBC (N9033L), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper planning/decision. Related factors were: the terrain condition, unfavorable (lee-side) wind, and trees. 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.