# NTSB ANC96LA063: Champion 7GCB, N9985Y, Dillingham, AK, May 2, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 2, 1996, 14:25 local (22:25 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 58.820781, -157.859893 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8208&lon=-157.8599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2834 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2834/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA063 ## Probable cause failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,axle - overload - landing gear,wheel - separation - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The airplane was equipped with oversized, 29 inch Gar Aero 'Tundra' tires. A witness reported that as the airplane was landing on a hard surfaced runway, it swerved slightly, then veered to the right. The airplane's left main landing gear wheel separated, and the left main landing gear subsequently collapsed. The axle's fracture surfaces were consistent with an overload failure. The same pilot and airplane had been involved in an earlier ground loop/landing incident on a hard surfaced runway, two days before the accident landing. ## Factual narrative On May 2, 1996, about 1425 Alaska daylight time, a "Tundra" tire equipped 7GCB Champion airplane, N9985Y, operating as a business flight for the purpose of fish spotting, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger aboard were not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated in the vicinity of King Salmon, Alaska, time unknown. The accident was partially witnessed by FAA Anchorage Flight Standards District Office inspector Alfred Dilay. Inspector Dilay observed the airplane during a portion of the landing roll. He said he saw the left main landing gear wheel separate from the landing gear leg. The airplane then settled on the left gear leg, and the airplane turned to the right, causing the left main gear to buckle and fold underneath the fuselage. Another witness, Mr. Tom Slagel of Dillingham, was flying abeam runway 19, when he saw the accident airplane touch down and began to yaw to the left and right slightly. He continued to watch as the airplane began what he described as the beginning of a ground loop to the right. He said it appeared to him that the left main tire was excessively side loaded, and the left main landing gear subsequently collapsed. Damage to the accident airplane was observed on the left wing, and the tubular fuselage support structure for the left main landing gear. The FAA inspector noted that the 29 inch wheel had separated from the landing gear axle at the point where it attached to the Gar-Aero wheel adapters. The left main landing gear axle fractured, and the fracture surfaces were examined with a 20X eye loupe by the NTSB investigator-in-charge. The fracture surfaces were uniform in color and granular appearing, with multiple 45 degree shoulders. No evidence of a fatigue fracture was observed. The same airplane and pilot had been involved in a ground loop a few days earlier on April 30 at Kodiak, Alaska. In the earlier mishap, the airplane was reported to have received only minor damage. The Kodiak landing incident was also on a hard surfaced runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9985Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9985Y-2018-06-04), registration cancelled 2018-06-04, S/N 7GCB-185 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCB - Registry model: [Champion 7GCB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcb) (registry code 21101PC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 145 - Airframe hours: 3219 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph N. Darminio - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 15, 1996, 70 hours before - Departed: KING SALMON, AK - Destination: DLG - Airport: DLG, Dillingham, runway 19, 6,404 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 560 total, 50 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 3 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DLG ## 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 19960502011939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960502011939A), May 2, 1996: Bbavia 7GCB, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Tundra tried Aeronca began ground loop landing. Left gear too much side load collapsed. Axle fractured. ## Other investigations on N9985Y (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 NYC98LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA141), Jul 4, 1998: Champion 7GCG (N9985Y), Neavitt, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. 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.