Champion 7GCBC accident near Ninilchik, Alaska, September 13, 2024
On September 13, 2024 at about 4:03 pm local time, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N8CK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2024 · about 4:03 pm local time
- Place
- Ninilchik, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N8CK · registry record · serial 104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 13, 2024, about 0803 Alaska daylight time (AKDT), a Champion (Citabria) 7GCBC, N8CK, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Ninilchik, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to a family member of both occupants, the pilot and passenger departed Lowell Field Airport (00AK), Happy Valley, Alaska about 0700 to conduct a moose spotting flight. About 0745, a witness, located about 4.5 miles southwest of the accident site, reported seeing the accident airplane flying low overhead, following an off-roading trail, at an altitude between 100-200 ft above ground level (agl) with a crab angle of about 10°. The witness reported that, after passing overhead, the accident airplane flew about 500 ft east of his location, circled a group of four moose that were standing in an open field, then proceeded to fly northbound and out of view. (See figure 1) Figure 1: Chart depicting witness location relative to the accident site About 0803, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) received a 406 Mhz emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal assigned to the accident airplane from a location Southwest of Tustumena Lake. The RCC contacted the Federal Aviation Administration Kenai Flight Service Station, who routed an airplane over the location of the ELT signal to confirm the presence of a downed airplane. The RCC simultaneously dispatched search and rescue personnel to the accident site. (See figure 2) Figure 2: Aerial view of the accident site (NTSB Photo) The airplane came to rest about seven miles southwest of Tustumena Lake in an area of hilly, sparsely forested, tundra-covered terrain. The wreckage exhibited signatures consistent with a high angle, nose down impact. (See figure 3) Figure 3: View of the accident at accident site (NTSB Photo) All the major structures and components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The engine was partially burrowed into the soft, tundra-covered terrain, leaving only the top deck of the engine visible. The aft section of the fuselage protruded upwards from the point of impact at about a 50° angle with the empennage suspended about 12 ft above the ground. The outboard section of the right wing exhibited impact damage. The inboard, forward section of the left wing exhibited compression damage. The aft section of the fuselage exhibited lateral deformation in the direction of the right wing. No preimpact anomalies were observed with the flight control system at the wreckage site. The wreckage will be recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: 00AK Anchor Point AK at 3:00 pm
- Destination: 00AK Anchor Point AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.58 inHg
- Observation at 7:56 am from PASX, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PASX 131556Z AUTO 07004KT 10SM OVC060 09/ A2958 RMK AO2 SLP022 T0089 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N8CK the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC24FA091.