Champion 7GCBC accident near Palmer, Alaska, July 4, 2021
On July 4, 2021 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1969 Champion 7GCBC, registered N5213X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Palmer, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2021 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC, built 1969 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5213X · registry record · serial 177
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing rollout at an off-airport landing site as he was applying the brakes, the airplane encountered a series of “whoops” or bumps on the landing surface. After the airplane rolled over the first bump, the tail began to rise followed by the propeller impacting the second bump. The airplane subsequently nosed-over, sustaining substantial damage to both lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident may have been prevented if he had selected a more suitable landing site.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 131 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 87 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,422 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2020
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 B2B (piston); 1,454 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PAAQ, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 042053Z 20003KT 10SM SCT035 16/07 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP230 T01560067 56008
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 12, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo (Source Unknown) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.