Champion 7GCBC accident near Alexander Creek, Alaska, July 24, 1989
On July 24, 1989 at about 1:30 am local time, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N6366N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexander Creek, Alaska. 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 FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN. TURBULENCE WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1989 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Alexander Creek, Alaska
- 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
- N6366N · registry record · serial 15
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE FLARED TO LAND, THE FLOATPLANE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE & TOUCHED DOWN ON THE THE RIGHT FLOAT. THE ACFT THEN WENT FORWARD & THE RIGHT FLOAT TIP WENT INTO THE WATER. THIS CAUSED THE STRUTS ON THE RIGHT FLOAT TO BEND. THE PROP THEN CUT INTO THE RIGHT FLOAT & PIECES OF METAL PIERCED THE LEFT FLOAT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FLOATS SANK & ALLOWED THE ENG TO BECOME SUBMERGED IN THE WATER.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,195 hours in all; 940 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1,038 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,865 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 1988; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 48°F (9°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.