N6310N Aviation Accident 2025-04-29: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:04, 1 May 2025

Fatal Accident (1) - Private Champion 7ECA Citabria, N6310N, Flying N Ranch Airport, (CA04), Cottonwood, CA, April 29, 2025.

Interactive Map

Accident Information


Approx. Accident Location	Aircraft Fat.	Aircraft Inj.	Ground Fat.	Ground Inj.	ASN Entry
40°20'34.59"N, 122°20'30.48"W	1	1	0	0	Aviation Safety Network

Aircraft Information


Type	Operator	Registration	Serial Number	Manufacture Date
Champion 7ECA Citabria	Private	N6310N	463	1967

YouTube Accident Related Video(s)

ASX Accident Report

On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, a privately operated Champion 7ECA Citabria, registration number N6310N, crashed near Cottonwood, California at approximately 3:35 p.m. local time. The aircraft was a single-engine, tandem-seat light airplane built in 1967, registered to a Cottonwood resident. Onboard were two occupants: the pilot, who succumbed to injuries at the scene, and a passenger who survived with significant injuries and was subsequently airlifted to a hospital. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire, with smoke from the crash observed on regional monitoring cameras.

The accident took place just south of a rural airstrip near Phyllis Road, in a wooded area where witnesses observed a sudden plume of black smoke following the impact. There were no distress signals or unusual noises reported prior to the crash, according to nearby residents. Responding agencies included the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, Cal Fire, and emergency medical services, all of whom were on site shortly after the incident. The passenger was reportedly ejected from the aircraft during the crash sequence and was found with severe burn injuries, while the pilot was declared deceased on scene. The precise phase of flight was identified as en route, though the aircraft’s departure and destination points were not disclosed in available records.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began their investigation the following morning. Initial steps included on-site documentation and arrangements to transport the wreckage to a secure facility for further examination. Investigators are focusing on multiple potential causal factors, including environmental conditions, witness reports, recorded surveillance imagery, and possible mechanical anomalies. A preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days, with the final analysis dependent on laboratory testing and data validation.

This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

Tracking and Social Media

Flight Tracking: Flightradar24, FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)

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-'''Fatal Accident (2) - Smokey Bay Air Inc. Cessna T207 Turbo Stationair 7, N91025, Nanwalek Airport (KEB), AK,  April 28, 2025.'''
+'''Fatal Accident (1) - Private Champion 7ECA Citabria, N6310N, Flying N Ranch Airport, (CA04), Cottonwood, CA, April 29, 2025.'''
 == Interactive Map ==
-<html><iframe src="https://wiki.alsresume.com/maps/n91025.html" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></html>
+<html><iframe src="https://wiki.alsresume.com/maps/n6310n.html" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></html>
 == Accident Information ==
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 ! ASN Entry
 |-
-| [https://g.co/kgs/eCMZGLz 59°21'7.73"N, 151°55'30.54"W]
+| [https://g.co/kgs/QvCQ5bJ 40°20'34.59"N, 122°20'30.48"W]
-| style="color:red; font-weight:bold;" | 2
+| style="color:red; font-weight:bold;" | 1
 | style="color:orange; font-weight:bold;" | 1
 | style="color:green; font-weight:bold;" | 0
 | style="color:green; font-weight:bold;" | 0
-| [https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/503302 Aviation Safety Network]
+| [https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/503638 Aviation Safety Network]
 |}
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 ! Manufacture Date
 |-
-| [https://wiki.alsresume.com/index.php?title=Cessna_T207_Turbo_Stationair_7 Cessna T207 Turbo Stationair 7]
+| Champion 7ECA Citabria
-| [https://smokeybayair.com/Arctic Aviation Leasing LLC opb Smokey Bay Air]
+| Private
-| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=91025 N91025]
+| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=6310N N6310N]
-| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=91025 20700016]
+| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=6310N 463]
-| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=91025 1969]
+| [https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=6310N 1967]
 |}
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+<td>[[File:N6310Na.jpg|250px]]</td>
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+<td>[[File:N6310Nb.jpg|250px]]</td>
-<td>[[File:N91025b.jpg|250px]]</td>
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-<td>[[File:N91025d.jpg|250px]]</td>
+<td>[[File:N6310Nc.jpg|250px]]</td>
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+<td>[[File:N6310Nd.jpg|250px]]</td>
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-<td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">v=zUy0pyRXTlo</embedvideo></td><td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">MikOezAdtfU</embedvideo></td>
+<td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">Tvx-k1pwcSA</embedvideo></td><td><embedvideo service="youtube" dimensions="420x236" alignment="left">MikOezAdtfU</embedvideo></td>
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 == ASX Accident Report ==
-On April 28, 2025, a Cessna T207 Turbo Stationair 7, registered N91025 and operated by Smokey Bay Air, crashed near the rural community of [https://wiki.alsresume.com/index.php?title=Nanwalek,_Alaska Nanwalek on the southern Kenai Peninsula in Alaska]. The aircraft was on a commercial charter flight from Homer to Nanwalek and was carrying three occupants: pilot Daniel Bunker, 48, of Homer; passenger Jenny Irene Miller, 37, an Anchorage-based photographer originally from Nome; and a third male passenger who has not been identified as of the writing of this report. The aircraft impacted terrain during the landing phase, reportedly crashing on the runway and entering the water at its end near the Nanwalek Airport. Bunker and Miller were killed in the accident, and the unidentified third person received serious injuries.
+On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, a privately operated Champion 7ECA Citabria, registration number N6310N, crashed near Cottonwood, California at approximately 3:35 p.m. local time. The aircraft was a single-engine, tandem-seat light airplane built in 1967, registered to a Cottonwood resident. Onboard were two occupants: the pilot, who succumbed to injuries at the scene, and a passenger who survived with significant injuries and was subsequently airlifted to a hospital. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post-crash fire, with smoke from the crash observed on regional monitoring cameras.
-According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Cessna was on final approach at approximately 2:00 p.m. local time when the accident occurred. The Nanwalek Airport is known for its challenging operational environment, including a short, curved gravel runway—only 850 feet of which is considered usable—and frequent strong winds. METAR data from nearby stations at the time showed clear skies and variable winds, with no significant meteorological anomalies that would have directly contributed to the accident.
+The accident took place just south of a rural airstrip near Phyllis Road, in a wooded area where witnesses observed a sudden plume of black smoke following the impact. There were no distress signals or unusual noises reported prior to the crash, according to nearby residents. Responding agencies included the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office, Cal Fire, and emergency medical services, all of whom were on site shortly after the incident. The passenger was reportedly ejected from the aircraft during the crash sequence and was found with severe burn injuries, while the pilot was declared deceased on scene. The precise phase of flight was identified as en route, though the aircraft’s departure and destination points were not disclosed in available records.
-Daniel Bunker, the pilot in command, was a commercially certificated aviator with both single- and multi-engine ratings and known locally for his experience flying in Alaska’s demanding terrain. Jenny Irene Miller was a prominent Native artist and photographer whose work incorporated Inupiaq traditions and LGBTQ+ advocacy. The surviving male passenger, who has not been publicly identified, was medevaced to Anchorage in critical condition. Emergency response efforts included the Alaska State Troopers, local volunteers, and regional rescue services including Guardian Flight and LifeMed Alaska.
+The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began their investigation the following morning. Initial steps included on-site documentation and arrangements to transport the wreckage to a secure facility for further examination. Investigators are focusing on multiple potential causal factors, including environmental conditions, witness reports, recorded surveillance imagery, and possible mechanical anomalies. A preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days, with the final analysis dependent on laboratory testing and data validation.
-Eyewitness reports and early FAA accounts indicate that the aircraft impacted the runway and overran into the adjacent water body. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the NTSB, which dispatched an investigator to the site shortly after the incident. The aircraft was manufactured in 1978 and categorized as destroyed in the accident. This particular airframe, N91025, had previously been involved in a 2016 crash at the same airport but was returned to service after repairs.
-Preliminary indications suggest that terrain configuration and approach path alignment may have contributed to the outcome, especially given the limited length and geometry of the Nanwalek strip. Although weather conditions were not severe, the interaction of wind gusts with the airport's unique layout remains a point of interest. The ongoing investigation will likely examine flight path data, maintenance records, and pilot performance to determine probable cause. No further details on contributing mechanical or procedural factors have been released at this time
 '''This page will be updated as more information becomes available.'''
 </div>
-<div style="display:block; max-width:800px; margin-left:0px; padding-left:0px; text-align:left; line-height:1.6; font-family:Arial, sans-serif;">
-== Accident Update 2025-04-30 ==
-=== Update Summary ===
-On April 30, 2025, the NTSB released new insights into the fatal crash of a Smokey Bay Air Cessna 207 near Nanwalek. Investigators now believe that the pilot, Daniel Bunker, may have initiated a go-around after attempting to avoid a loose dog on the landing runway.
-NTSB Alaska regional chief Clint Johnson stated that the pilot was in communication with another aircraft when he performed a steep right turn during the go-around, which may have led to a loss of control. Witnesses confirmed the presence of the animal and described the pilot’s abrupt maneuver shortly before the aircraft impacted the beach.
-The crash resulted in the deaths of Bunker and Jenny Irene Miller, an Anchorage-based artist and activist. The third passenger, a male, survived with serious injuries and was evacuated to Anchorage.
-=== Current Investigation Status ===
-Investigators have begun the recovery of the aircraft wreckage and intend to transport it to Homer, and later Anchorage, for detailed analysis. Early theories point to a potential aerodynamic stall during the steep climbout. No mechanical issues have yet been confirmed or ruled out.
-Rescue teams moved the wreckage out of the tidal zone shortly after the crash. Recovery coordination is ongoing in partnership with the operator’s insurance provider.
-=== Victim Profiles ===
-'''Daniel Bunker:''' A respected pilot from Homer, father-of-two, nature photographer, brown bear guide, and volunteer firefighter. Remembered by the Seldovia Village Tribe as “a kind soul who served our communities with dedication.”
-'''Jenny Irene Miller (Wiagañmiu):''' A queer Iñupiaq artist and photographer known for her portraits of Alaska Natives. She served as a board member for Native Movement and is remembered for her contributions to Alaska Native and LGBTQ+ visibility.
-=== Notes ===
-• Anyone with information is encouraged to contact investigators at mailto:witness@ntsb.gov.
-• The aircraft was operating a tour route with connections to Seldovia and bear-viewing excursions.
-</div>
-== Previous Accident History ==
-[https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/198562 N91025 - Air taxi crashes in Nanwalek]
 == Tracking and Social Media ==
-* Flight Tracking: [https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n91025 Flightradar24], [https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N91025/history/20250428/2138Z/PAHO/L%2059.39799%20-151.84286 FlightAware], ADS-B Exchange
+* Flight Tracking: [https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n6310n#3a1d7a04 Flightradar24], FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange
-* Social Media: [https://www.facebook.com/SmokeyBayAir/ Facebook], Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)
+* Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)
 == Sources and References ==
-* [https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/9078860 JetPhotos]
+* [https://airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001312355.html Airport-Data]
-* [https://mustreadalaska.com/small-plane-crashed-in-on-kenai-peninsula-two-dead-one-medevaced-in-critical-condition/ Must Read Alaska]
+* [https://krcrtv.com/news/local/small-plane-crashes-near-phyllis-road-in-cottonwood-officials-investigating# KRCR]
-* [https://alaskapublic.org/news/2025-04-28/troopers-responding-to-kenai-peninsula-plane-crash Alaska Public Media]
+* [https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/new-details-released-about-deadly-plane-crash-in-tehama-county/article_03c8f830-bd6a-4980-aa96-dfbd5f96bd03.html Action News Now]
-* [https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/aviation/2025/04/28/troopers-responding-to-report-of-plane-crash-on-kenai-peninsula/ Anchorage Daily News]
-* [https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14664171/theory-alaska-passenger-plane-crashed-killed.html DailyMail]