Champion 11BC-S accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 11, 1995
On June 11, 1995, a Champion 11BC-S, registered N86135, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE GUSTY WINDS AND ASSOCIATED DOWNDRAFTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1995
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 11BC-S
- Registration
- N86135 · registry record · serial 562
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A SMALL LAKE IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, HE SAID THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT, AND THAT HE WAS FORCED TO LOWER THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED UNTIL IT COLLIDED WITH 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,855 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1995; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ENA Kenai AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°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.