On August 22, 1995, a Champion 7ECA (registration N57393) operated by Lester J. Desselle was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and collision with the terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A witness observed an airplane take off, make a right turn, fly over a camp, then crash in a nose-down attitude. The aircraft came to rest with a crush line indicating a 45-degree impact angle.
Overview
According to a witness, the airplane was being used for hunting in the area. The pilot and a passenger took off from an unimproved strip. The witness stated that after takeoff, the airplane made a right turn and flew over the camp. Following the flyover, the airplane started another right turn. The witness looked away and then heard the plane crash. Turning back, he saw the airplane on the ground.
Wreckage Information
The aircraft came to rest in a nose-down attitude. A crush line on the airplane indicated that it had impacted the ground at approximately a 45-degree nose-down angle. Photographs taken by the witness showed the airplane just lifting off at the airstrip and climbing with a nose-high attitude.
Witness Account
The witness reported that he was hunting in the area along with the two occupants of the airplane. He observed the departure and the subsequent maneuvers before the crash. No further details about the occupants or the aircraft were provided.