Champion 7HC accident near Seward, Alaska, August 16, 1987
On August 16, 1987 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Champion 7HC, registered N8976R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seward, Alaska (Seward airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
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
- August 16, 1987 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Seward, Alaska · Seward · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7HC · all 7HCs on the register
- Registration
- N8976R · registry record · serial 7HC28
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A SMALL MOUND AND NOSED OVER ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED WITH A 7 TO 10 KNOT TAILWIND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 274 hours in all; 44 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,458 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 1986; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENA Kenai AK at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,535 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N8976R 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 ANC87LA123.