Champion 7GCBC accident near Cantwell, Alaska, January 2, 1989
On January 2, 1989 at about 7:12 pm local time, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N5134T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cantwell, Alaska (Cantwell airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE SNOW COVERED RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 1989 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- Cantwell, Alaska · Cantwell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5134T · registry record · serial 75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER WERE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A SNOW COVERED RUNWAY AT CANTWELL, AK. THE WHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DEEP SNOW DURING THE LANDING ROLL, CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 49.2 HOURS OF FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND WAS PROHIBITED FROM CARRYING PASSENGERS.
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: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 22 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,491 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1988; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Z68 Cantwell AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.