September 12, 1996 - Plane Piloting Fatality at May Creek
Peter M. Murphy, 33, of Valdez and J.M., 45, departed on a sheep hunting trip in remote mountainous terrain in Peter's Champion 7EC, N9061B. The flight did not return and was reported overdue 4 days later. Search personnel located a weak ELT signal on the 5th day and the wreckage was located at 5,300 feet mean sea level. The airplane, powered by a 90-horsepower engine, was found heavily loaded with hunting and camping equipment. Center of gravity (CG) calculations, not including any fuel calculation, indicated the airplane was loaded beyond the aft CG limit. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was found.