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NTSB Report

September 5, 2004 · Champion 7GCBC · N9698S

Fairbanks, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 5, 2004
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Fairbanks, AK
Aircraft
Champion 7GCBC
Tail Number
N9698S
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC04CA111

The private certificated pilot was landing on a remote tundra-covered area that was rough and uneven. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear tire dropped into a hole. The pilot indicated that the right gear strut failed, which allowed the tire to rotate upward and strike the aft right wing lift strut. The strut buckled, and the right wingtip and propeller struck the ground.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was rough and uneven terrain.

Full Narrative

On September 4, 2004, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Champion 7GCBC airplane, N9698S, sustained substantial damage when the right main landing gear collapsed during the landing roll at a remote landing area, about 40 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at a private airstrip near Kenai, Alaska, about 1200. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 23, the pilot reported that he was landing on a tundra-covered area, about 4 miles east of Gold King Creek. The landing area was oriented north/south, and was about 500 feet long. The pilot said that the surface was rough and uneven, and as he landed toward the north, the right main landing gear tire dropped into a hole during the landing roll. The pilot indicated that the right gear strut failed, which allowed the tire to rotate upward and strike the aft right wing lift strut. The right wing strut buckled, and the right wingtip and propeller struck the ground.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftChampion 7GCBC
Tail NumberN9698S
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 25 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data