Champion 7ECA accident near Palmer, AK
On August 22, 1995, a Champion 7ECA (airplane) was involved in an accident near Palmer, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- August 22, 1995
- Place
- Palmer, AK
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 61.620°N, 148.980°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04115
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 22, 1995, at 1125 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Champion Citabria, 7ECA, N57393, operated by the pilot, crashed during the initial climb, immediately after takeoff from an unimproved takeoff area in Grasshopper Valley located near Palmer, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed the takeoff area and the destination was Birchwood, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private certificated pilot and the passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. WITNESSES There was one witness to the accident, David Bourrgeois of 120 Central Ave., Houma, LA 70360, who was a hunting partner of the pilot and passenger. He was interviewed on August 22, 1995. During the interview, he stated the airplane took off to the northwest, into the wind and he had taken pictures of the airplane's takeoff. A review of the photographs showed that the airplane took off to the south. The witness stated that the airplane made a right turn and flew over the camp, which was located on the east side of the south end of the airstrip. The witness held his hands up to indicate the amount of bank angle the airplane reached during the turn. The angle was estimated at 30 degrees of bank angle. As the airplane began another right turn, he looked away and then heard a loud "wump." He saw the airplane crashed on the ground approximately 700 feet southwest of the camp. INJURIES TO PERSONS Both occupants received fatal injuries. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT The airplane's engine compartm
Probable cause
failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and collision with the terrain.
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Browse: Alaska · Champion aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
