Champion 7ECA accident near Settlers Bay, Alaska, June 16, 1986
On June 16, 1986 at about 11:21 pm local time, a Champion 7ECA, registered N11864, was substantially damaged in an accident near Settlers Bay, Alaska (Settlers Bay airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 16, 1986 · about 11:21 pm local time
- Place
- Settlers Bay, Alaska · Settlers Bay
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N11864 · no longer on the register · serial 834-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) GAVE THE FRONT SEAT PLT A SIMULATED FORCED LNDG WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS ALIGNED WITH RWY 20 & THE WIND. THE FRONT SEAT PLT ELECTED TO FLY A TRAFFIC PATTERN TO RWY 2. AS THE FRONT SEAT PLT MANEUVERED TO LINE UP WITH RWY 2, MUCH ALT WAS LOST & THE FINAL APCH WAS ABOUT 30 DEG OFF THE RWY HEADING. THE CFI APPLIED POWER FOR A GO- AROUND, BUT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID HITTING TREE TOPS & THE GND NEAR THE RGT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT WAS A RATED SINGLE-ENG PLT & WAS CONSIDERED THE PLT-IN-COMMAND ON THIS FLT.
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: 93 hours in all; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 1985; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z16 Wasilla AK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 2, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.