Valdez, AK, USA
N4340C
CHAMPION 7EC
The student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight when he did not arrive at his destination as expected. The wreckage was located three days later at an elevation of about 2,560 ft mean sea level in an area of tundra and rock-covered terrain. Examination indicated that the airplane impacted terrain in a near-vertical attitude. There were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and the propeller displayed evidence that the engine was producing power at the time of impact. Multiple witnesses along the route of flight reported seeing the airplane flying just above the trees in very poor weather conditions. Weather camera images taken near the accident site around the time of the accident showed near-zero visibility and clouds near the surface. Although these conditions had been forecast, there was no record of the pilot obtaining weather information from an access-controlled source before he departed on the flight. Review of the pilot’s flight training history and endorsements revealed that he did not possess a valid solo cross-country endorsement for the accident flight. The pilot’s flight instructor had not provided any instruction in flight by reference to instruments because the pilot’s airplane was not equipped for instrument flight. Although toxicology testing of the pilot indicated that he had used cannabis at some point before the accident, given that no psychoactive compounds were identified in blood and that urine and blood concentrations of the inactive metabolite, THC-COOH, do not necessarily reflect recent use, it is unlikely that the pilot’s use of cannabis contributed to the accident. Based on the wreckage signature and weather at the time of the accident, the pilot likely lost control of the airplane while maneuvering after encountering near-zero visibility in the dense cloud cover.
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 11, 2022, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Champion 7EC airplane, N4340C, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident about 20 miles northeast of Valdez, Alaska. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from Valdez Pioneer Field Airport (VDZ), Valdez, and was returning to a private airstrip in Sutton, Alaska. When the pilot did not arrive in Sutton, family and friends reported the airplane overdue. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an alert notice at 2246, and search personnel from the Civil Air Patrol, Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guard, and the U.S. Coast Guard, along with several volunteers, searched for the overdue airplane. Due to poor weather conditions along the anticipated flight route and the lack of an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal, the wreckage was not located until July 14th in an area known as Thompson Pass, at an elevation of about 2,560 ft mean sea level. Multiple witnesses along the route of flight reported seeing the airplane flying just above the trees in very poor weather conditions. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe student pilot had a solo cross-country endorsement dated March 21, 2022, with limitations of 2,500-ft cloud ceiling, 10 knots of wind, and 5 statute miles visibility; the endorsement expired on June 29, 2022. The pilot’s flight instructor stated that he did not provide any flight planning training for a flight to Valdez and the pilot did not have a cross-country solo endorsement for a flight to Valdez. The instructor had not provided any instruction in flight by reference to instruments to the accident pilot because the pilot’s airplane was not equipped for instrument flight. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONAn AIRMET Sierra advisory was issued at 1206, valid for the accident site at the accident time, that forecast mountain obscuration conditions due to clouds and precipitation. The Area Forecast valid for the accident site at the accident time was issued at 1204 and forecast few clouds at 600 ft above ground level (agl), with broken clouds at 3,000 agl. After 1600, the Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) for VDZ expected variable wind at 3 knots, 3 miles visibility, light rain, mist, few clouds at 800 ft agl, a broken ceiling at 1,500 ft agl, overcast clouds at 8,000 ft agl, and cloud tops at 18,000 ft with occasional light rain. The accident pilot did not request nor receive weather information from FAA Flight Services or ForeFlight. A search of archived ForeFlight information indicated that the accident pilot did have a ForeFlight account, which recorded several route string combinations retrieved before the accident flight. It is unknown what, if any, additional weather information the accident pilot viewed before or during the accident flight.An FAA weather camera near the accident site showed near-zero visibility and a cloud layer near the surface (see Figure 1), when compared to the clear day image from the same camera. (see Figure 2.) Figure 1. Weather camera at Thompson Pass, AK Figure 2. Clear day visual of Thompson Pass camera WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane impacted an area of tundra and rock-covered terrain in a near-vertical attitude. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. The right aileron cable was separated near the upper pulley in the cockpit, consistent with tension overload. The fuselage had numerous broken frame tubes consistent with impact damage. Fuselage was detached from the wings at the wing attachment points and the firewall. The fuselage came to rest inverted with the tail 90 degrees to the right of the direction of travel. Both wings displayed leading edge impact damage. Both ends of the propeller were curled back toward the spinner with rotational scratches/scoring along the cambered side of the blade. There was evidence of fuel blight and a strong smell of fuel at the accident site. The exhaust, induction, and fuel systems were crushed from impact. Both magnetos remained attached to the engine with no damage. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATIONToxicology testing indicated that the pilot had used cannabis some time before the accident; however, neither the primary psychoactive compound, THC, nor its short-lived psychoactive metabolite, 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC, were detected in his blood or urine. The non-psychoactive metabolite, THC-COOH, was detected in blood and urine at very low levels.
The pilot’s decision to continue visual flight rules flight into instrument meteorological conditions which resulted in loss of control and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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