Champion AERONCA 7DC accident near Elmendorf, Alaska, May 31, 1990
On May 31, 1990 at about 2:15 am local time, a Champion AERONCA 7DC, registered N2759A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmendorf, Alaska (Six Mile Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY TIE DOWN AND CHOCK THE AIRCRAFT AND/OR OBTAIN PROPER ASSISTANCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO PROPERLY SET THE THROTTLE, WHILE HAND PROPPING TO START THE ENGINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1990 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Elmendorf, Alaska · Six Mile Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion AERONCA 7DC AERONCA 7D · all AERONCA 7DCs on the register
- Registration
- N2759A · registry record · serial 7AC-6389
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE PREPARATING FOR FLT, HE WAS STARTING THE ENG BY HAND PROPPING. THE ENG FLOODED, SO HE OPENED THE THROTTLE, TURNED THE FUEL VALVES & MAGNETOS 'OFF' & PROPPED THE ENG 10 TIMES TO PUMP FUEL FROM THE CYLINDERS. HE THEN RETURNED TO THE COCKPIT, TURNED ON THE MAGNETOS & VERIFIED THE FUEL VALVES WERE OFF, BUT FORGOT TO CLOSE THE THROTTLE BEFORE RESUMING THE PROCEDURE. ALSO, HE DID NOT TIE-DOWN THE ACFT OR CHOCK ITS WHEELS. WHEN HE COMMENCED HAND PROPPING, THE ENG STARTED & WENT TO A HIGH POWER SETTING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT SVRL OBJECTS (INCLUDING A UTILITY POLE) & WENT INTO ABOUT 3 FT OF WATER IN A LAKE, BEFORE THE ENG STOPPED.
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, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,851 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 69 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3,300 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L-3A at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.