No fatalities

CHAMPION 7GCBC accident at Sutton, AK, 31 Aug 2025

Sutton, AK, United States

On August 31, 2025, a CHAMPION 7GCBC was involved in an aviation accident near Sutton, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The airplane’s encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Capability exceededEffect on operationPilot