Champion 7ECA N5189X

Summary

On 20 August 2001 at about 00:30 local time, a Champion 7ECA registered N5189X, operated by Freedom Avaition LLC, was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 August 2001 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmer, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.5833, -149.0925

Aircraft

Champion 7ECA

Registration

N5189X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Freedom Avaition LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA115

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. A factor associated with the accident was rough/uneven terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The newly certificated private pilot, with one passenger, entered a small valley that he thought would lead into a larger valley. After entering the valley, the terrain began rising, and the pilot initiated a full power climb. The valley became too narrow to turn around, the terrain continued to rise, and the airspeed was decreasing. The pilot was able to make a forced landing uphill, on an area of rough, uneven terrain. After landing, the pilot and his passenger were eventually able to turn the airplane around, facing downhill, in preparation for a takeoff attempt. The pilot said that during the downhill takeoff run, the airplane's main wheels struck a series of large bumps. The pilot said, in part: "...when we hit the bumps, just before takeoff, I accidentally closed the throttle, just as we just fell over a fifty feet cliff." The airplane continued to fall, collided with the valley floor, and sustained substantial damage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.