N63995

On September 3, 2005, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Champion 7KCAB airplane, N63995, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll on a remote gravel bar, about 16 miles south-southwest 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 airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Fairbanks International Airport about 1200, and 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 3, the pilot indicated that he was landing toward the south on a gravel bar along the Tanana River. The landing area was about 1,400 feet long, and about 300 feet wide. The pilot said he flew over the area several times, looking for any hazards, and then proceeded to land. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a depression the pilot had not observed before. The airplane nosed over and received structural damage to the left wing lift strut, and the vertical stabilizer.