# NTSB ANC99LA035: Champion 7GCBC, N9023L, Healy, AK, March 16, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 16, 1999, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Healy, AK - Coordinates: 63.6791, -150.029006 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6791&lon=-150.0290&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 45962 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45962/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. A factor associated with the accident was a snowbank. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor) ## Analysis The private pilot was landing in a tailwheel equipped airplane. The pilot stated in his written report that the airplane bounced on initial touchdown, and he attempted to abort the landing by applying full power. He said the airplane became airborne, veered to the left, and settled onto the runway edge. The pilot noted that during the second touchdown the left wheel contacted soft snow, and he was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane went off the left side of the 2,920 feet long by 60 feet wide runway, and came to rest in a ditch that borders the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right landing gear leg, and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 16, 1999, about 1700 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Champion 7GCBC airplane, N9023L, sustained substantial damage while landing at the Healy airstrip, Healy, Alaska. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1650. In his written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that while landing on runway 15, the airplane bounced on initial touchdown, and he attempted to abort the landing by applying full power. He said the airplane became airborne, veered to the left, and settled onto the runway edge. The pilot noted that during the second touchdown the left wheel contacted soft snow, and he was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane went off the left side of the 2,920 feet long by 60 feet wide runway, and came to rest in a ditch that borders the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right landing gear leg, and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9023L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9023L), registered now, S/N 246-70, 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 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 246-70 - Airframe hours: 1870 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George M. Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 1998, 40 hours before - Departed: FAI, FAIRBANKS, AK - Airport: HRR, Healy River, runway 15, 2,920 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 517 total, 22 in this make and model, 471 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 16 °F 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.