Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall while maneuvering.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that he was flying his tailwheel-equipped airplane at 400 feet above ground level when he spotted two bears in a swamp. He said that, as he was turning left to look at the bears, the nose of the airplane dropped rapidly, and the airplane descended vertically. During the pilot's efforts to recover from the aerodynamic stall, the airplane impacted terrain, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC12CA057 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 23, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Tyonek, Alaska
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Champion 7GCB
- N-number
- N466RV
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.