Champion 7GCBC accident near Circle Hot Spri, Alaska, May 9, 1994
On May 9, 1994 at about 1:30 am local time, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N1648G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Circle Hot Spri, Alaska (Circle Hot Springs 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
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN CROSSWIND LANDINGS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 1994 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Circle Hot Spri, Alaska · Circle Hot Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N1648G · no longer on the register · serial 129
- 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 HAD NOT FLOWN IN A YEAR AND HAD JUST PURCHASED THIS AIRPLANE. HE RECEIVED A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW WHICH INCLUDED A 'DOZEN OR SO' LANDINGS. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN A 15 KNOT CROSSWIND AND LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO RETRACT HIS FLAPS.
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: 370 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,020 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 15, 1993; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 28, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.