Champion 7EC accident near Soldotna, Alaska, August 18, 2010
On August 18, 2010 at about 5:00 am local time, a Champion 7EC, registered N4697E, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Soldotna, Alaska (Sport Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2010 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Sport Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N4697E · registry record · serial 7EC-44
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Moments after a calm-water takeoff, the single-engine floatplane stalled while in a climbing turn and impacted the water in a nose low attitude. The airplane came to rest nearly submerged with the empennage extending above the surface. The pilot and passenger were able to exit unassisted. During the mishap the airplane’s wing struts were bent and both floats were torn free from their mounts. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane that contributed to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 230 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 28, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,399 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 28, 2005
- Maximum gross weight: 1,474 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Soldotna AK
- Destination: Beaver Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 1,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 017° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from PASX, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.