Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dillingham, Alaska 99576
Saturday, July 3, 1993 15:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LANDED ON A GRAVEL BAR TO AWAIT BETTER WEATHER. THE GRAVEL BAR WAS 375 FEET LONG. THE PLANE NORMALLY REQUIRED A TAKEOFF DISTANCE OF 400 FEET. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT THE TAKEOFF COULD BE MADE BASED UPON THE 5 TO 10 MILE PER HOUR HEADWIND, HAVING NO PASSENGERS, AND 3/4THS FUEL. AT THE END OF THE GRAVEL BAR THE PLANE'S INDICATED AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. NORMAL LIFTOFF AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE PLANE ROSE SEVERAL FEET THEN SETTLED INTO THE RIVER AND FLIPPED OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND AND TAKEOFF.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/3/1993
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone --
Event City DILLINGHAM
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99576
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 915
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 3 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9597S
NTSB Number ANC93LA111
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Champion
Aircraft Model 7ECA
Aircraft Series Identifier 7ECA
Aircraft Serial Number 324
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 60
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WARNER, CARL E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 125
Aircraft Owner City SAND POINT
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99661
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WARNER, CARL E.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 125
Operator City SAND POINT
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99661
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AKN
Departure City KING SALMON
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City YUKON RIVER
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --