Champion 7HC N8976R

Summary

On 16 June 2011 at about 23:45 local time, a Champion 7HC registered N8976R, operated by Scott Veal, was involved in an accident near Kenai, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 2011 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Kenai, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.3786, -152.2886

Aircraft

Champion 7HC

Registration

N8976R

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Scott Veal

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kenai → Kenai

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC11CA049

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in the collapse of the main landing gear, and a nose over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing on a beach when the airplane struck a rock, resulting in a nose over and separation of the right main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing during the accident sequence. Prior to landing, the pilot made a low pass over the beach, and thought it looked suitable for landing. However, after touchdown, he realized the rocks on the beach were larger than they appeared from the air. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot said he should have picked a better place to land.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.