Champion 7GCB accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, June 29, 1988
On June 29, 1988 at about 7:50 am local time, a Champion 7GCB, registered N9892Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Chena Marina airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- June 29, 1988 · about 7:50 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Chena Marina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCB · all 7GCBs on the register
- Registration
- N9892Y · registry record · serial 7GCB-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 70 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A PRIVATE TURF AIRSTRIP WITH HER NON-PILOT HUSBAND ONBOARD. AS SHE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE TO THE ONE-HALF OPEN POSITION, THE AIRPLANE VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. SHE SAID THAT SHE PULLED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE RUNWAY PREMATURELY, BECAME AIRBORNE, BANKED TO THE RIGHT, OVER CORRECTED WITH A LEFT BANK, AND THEN STALLED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE PITCHED DOWN AND CRASHED IN ADJACENT SEAPLANE POND. SHE AND HER HUSBAND EXITED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE AND SWAM TO SHORE.
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
- LOSS OF CONTROL - ON GROUND/WATER during takeoff - roll/run
- LOSS OF CONTROL - IN FLIGHT during takeoff - initial climb
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER during descent - uncontrolled
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 1
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,421 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, June 10, 1988; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scattered at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°C, dew point 0°C
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 ANC88LA076.