Event ANC99LA081

Factual narrative

On June 23, 1999, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped, Champion 7GCBC airplane, N5149X, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Lake Hood Airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to the pilot. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 24, the pilot reported that he was practicing touch and go landings. The pilot stated on his fifth touch and go landing, while on short final with a left crosswind, "the wind quit and I just sunk." He added: "I may have let my airspeed get too low at that time." The pilot said he applied full power and full back pressure on the elevator control. He said the left wing stalled and the airplane bounced about 30 feet short of the runway. The airplane came to a stop at the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated "I applied too much back pressure and stalled it." The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be light and variable. The certificated private pilot was practicing touch and go landings. The pilot stated on his fifth touch and go landing, while on short final with a left crosswind, 'the wind quit and I just sunk.' He added: 'I may have let my airspeed get too low at that time.' The pilot said he applied full power and full back pressure on the elevator control. He said the left wing stalled and the airplane bounced about 30 feet short of the runway. The airplane came to a stop at the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated 'I applied too much back pressure and stalled it.' The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings. Wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be light and variable. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12