Champion 7GCBC accident near Palmer, Alaska, June 24, 2022
On June 24, 2022 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1968 Champion 7GCBC, registered N3085G, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Palmer, Alaska (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inadequate compensation for the gusting wind conditions with resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2022 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC, built 1968 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N3085G · registry record · serial 91
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, following a bounced three-point landing at a remote unimproved airstrip, a gust of wind pushed the airplane toward terrain. He elected to conduct a go-around while maneuvering around various obstacles. The airplane subsequently settled to the ground and impacted a ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation and that the accident may have been prevented if he had conducted a low approach before attempting to land followed by a wheel landing.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 2, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,729 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 130 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 51AK Talkeetna AK at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PAUO Willow AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PAAQ, 33 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 241953Z 20006KT 10SM FU CLR 21/11 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP264 T02060111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 2022. 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 | Memorandum for Record - Damage Determination | 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.
Other NTSB records under N3085G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.