Champion 7EC accident near Eagle River, Alaska, February 2, 1991
On February 2, 1991 at about 3:35 pm local time, a Champion 7EC, registered N8988R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eagle River, Alaska (Fire Lake 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 1991 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle River, Alaska · Fire Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7EC · all 7ECs on the register
- Registration
- N8988R · registry record · serial 732
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED THAT HIS ENGINE WAS NOT PRODUCING SUFFICIENT POWER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES. HIS ENGINE DID NOT STOP TURNING. EXAMINATION OF THE TERRAIN SHOWED THAT HE TURNED TOWARD RISING TERRAIN WHEN HE STATED HE WAS HAVING AN ENGINE PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, AN ENGINE TEST RUN SHOWED NO MECHANICAL REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND SUBSEQUENTLY SOLD THE AIRPLANE WRECKAGE AND ENGINE AND STATED TO THE BUYER THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ENGINE PROBLEM; THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO OUTCLIMB THE TERRAIN.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 665 hours in all; 516 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 665 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,334 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1990; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Lower Fire Lake AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Field Site AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 3,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 5°F (-15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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 ANC91FA023.