Champion 7GCBC accident near Skwentna, Alaska, September 15, 1996
On September 15, 1996 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Champion 7GCBC, registered N9033L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwentna, 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper planning/decision. Related factors were: the terrain condition, unfavorable (lee-side) wind, and trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1996 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- 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
- N9033L · registry record · serial 206-70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and a passenger were departing a remote mountain lake in a float equipped airplane. The lake was at an elevation of about 2,000 feet mean sea level. The pilot departed toward the west with a right quartering headwind. The departure path placed the airplane in the lee of a small mountain. After departure, the airplane would only climb to about 100 feet above the ground. Higher terrain and trees were in the departure path. The pilot lowered the nose of the airplane to gain airspeed and then pulled up over several trees. The right wing contacted a tree, the airplane descended into other trees. The pilot noted that the accident could have been prevented by taking two trips (or) by waiting for a more beneficial wind condition and departure route.
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
What happened, in order
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT during takeoff - initial climb
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea, AME, ASE, APLN, none
- Flight time: 660 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 560 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 2
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,710 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, July 12, 1996; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,732 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Destination: LHD Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 325° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scattered at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°C, dew point 0°C
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N9033L the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 ANC96LA155.