Champion 7GCB accident near Copalis Beach, Washington, May 15, 1989
On May 15, 1989 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Champion 7GCB, registered N8978R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Copalis Beach, Washington (Copalis State 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY PREFLIGHT PLANNING AND PREPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT SAND BAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1989 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Copalis Beach, Washington · Copalis State · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7GCB · all 7GCBs on the register
- Registration
- N8978R · registry record · serial 7GCB
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON SOFT SAND ON A CLOSED BEACH AIRSTRIP, RESULTING IN AN OVERSTRESS FRACTURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUT DURING LANDING ROLL. THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED BY IMPACT WITH THE GROUND DURING AN ABRUPT SWERVE AFTER THE LANDING GEAR STRUT COLLAPSED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Olympia WA at 6:00 pm
- Destination: S16 Copalis Beach WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from HQM, 14 miles away
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 SEA89LA089.