Aeronca 7AC CHAMP accident near Seldovia, Alaska, September 4, 1983
On September 4, 1983 at about 1:40 am local time, a Aeronca 7AC CHAMP, registered N3124E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seldovia, Alaska (Seldovia airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- September 4, 1983 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Seldovia, Alaska · Seldovia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 7AC CHAMP · all 7AC CHAMPs on the register
- Registration
- N3124E · no longer on the register · serial 7AC-6721
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT OVERTURNED ON TAKEOFF DUE TO TURBULENT WIND CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND WAS FROM 243 DEGREES AT 16 KTS. NO GUSTS. HE STATED ALSO THAT SEVERE TURBULENCE EXISTED AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ARPT MANAGER SAID THATTHE ACFT TOOK OFF FROM RWY 16, ATTAINED AN ALT OF 100-150 FT AGL WHEN A GUST OF WIND FLIPPED THE ACFT UP AND OVER.
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: 730 hours in all; 730 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1983; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-200H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,600 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 243° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:47 pm from HOM, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.