Champion 7GCBC accident near Anchorage, Alaska, December 3, 2022
On December 3, 2022 at about 11:50 pm local time, a 1966 Champion 7GCBC, registered N8365V, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood 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 loss of directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2022 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC, built 1966 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N8365V · registry record · serial 66
- 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 after applying power during the takeoff roll, the airplane veered left. She attempted to correct by reducing engine power and using opposite rudder and right brake, but the airplane exited the runway and struck a parked airplane and fuel tank resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector confirmed the airplane’s rudder control, braking system, and tailwheel steering mechanism functioned correctly. Postaccident examination of the airframe revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 on ground during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 856 hours in all; 123 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 764 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,251.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 SERIES (piston); 3,243 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PVT Remote AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PALH
Weather report (METAR): PALH 032353Z AUTO 00000KT 6SM BR BKN100 M07/M07 A3036 RMK AO2 SLP280 I1001 I6002 T10671072 11061 21106 58004 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 27, 2023. 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 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | 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.