Champion 7ECA accident near Sterling, Alaska, July 14, 1983
On July 14, 1983 at about 1:30 am local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N2757Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sterling, Alaska (Moose River 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 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1983 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Sterling, Alaska · Moose River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N2757Z · no longer on the register · serial 2045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS TAKING OFF TO THE SOUTH AND COLLIDED WITH TREES ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS THE ACFT LIFTED OFF HE PASSED A CLEARING ON THE RIGHT AND A CROSSWIND DRIFTED THE ACFT LEFT ACROSS THE RUNWAY INTO TREES. THE LEFT WING CLIPPED A TREE AND THE ACFT WAS ROTATED INTO THE TREES AND BRUSH WHERE IT CAME TO REST.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 87 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,045 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 16, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.