N5268X

On November 6, 2009, about 1515 Alaska standard time, a Champion 7GCBC airplane, sustained substantial damage during an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain, about 55 miles northwest of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the private pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed a private airstrip near Soldotna, Alaska, about 1130.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on November 9, the pilot said that he and his passenger flew to the area west of Kenai to look for areas to trap during the upcoming season. He said they were cruising west, about 1,000 above ground level (agl) into a strong headwind, and that his global positioning system (GPS) was indicating a ground speed of 60 knots. He said he made a 180-degree turn to the east, and was indicating a ground speed of 128 knots. The pilot said he turned to the north, and encountered a crosswind that rolled the airplane inverted. He said he righted the airplane, but the crosswind rolled the airplane inverted a second time. The pilot said as he righted the airplane again, a downdraft pushed it into the treetops. He said the right wing struck Alder trees, and the airplane struck the ground. He said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

The pilot said he had received a preflight weather briefing from Kenai Flight Service, and that the winds in the departure area were light. He said there was no turbulence crossing Cook Inlet, but he could see dust blowing up from the riverbeds near the mountains to the north and west. The closest weather reporting station to the accident site, the automated weather station (PALV) at Big River Lakes, Alaska, 10 miles west of the accident site, reported at 2350Z: wind 270 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 30 knots.

The pilot did not submit an NTSB accident report as requested.