# Accident 19990823013349A: Bbavia 8GCBC, Wasilla, AK, August 23, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 23, 1999, 13:30 local time
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5047Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5047Y-2013-08-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 8GCBC (registry code 1220803, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 8GCBC
- Reported engine: LYC O360*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,130 total, 55 in this make and model, 55 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990823013349A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT CRASHED ON TAKE-OFF AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (.19) ON AUGUST 23, 1999, ABOUT 1330 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLIGHT EQUIPPED BELLANCA 8GCBC AIRPLANE, N5047Y, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TREES WHILE DEPARTING FROM MEMORY LAKE, LOCATED ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF WASILLA, ALASKA. THE PRIVATE PILOT/AIRPLANE OWNER AND ONE PASSENGER ABOARD RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.  THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON AUGUST 24, THE PILOT RELATED THAT HE WAS DEPARTING FROM A REMOTE LAKE THAT IS SURROUNDED BY 100 FEET TALL TREES.  HE SAID THAT PRIOR TO STARTING HIS TAKEOFF RUN, HE ESTIMATED THE WINDS TO BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE, FAVORING AN EASTERLY TAKEOFF.  HE REPORTED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE TREES, THE WIND INCREASED TO AN ESTIMATED 25 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, AND A STRONG DOWNDRAFT PUSHED THE AIRPLANE INTO TREES.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLE MS WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) WIND CALM ON SURFACE, AIRMAN STATED. HE HIT A BUMP IN THE AIR ABOVE THE TREES. THE A/C SETTLED INTO THE TREE TOPS, THEN TO THE GROUND THROUGH THE TREES TO THE GROUND NOSE FIRST.                                          (.4) THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT RELATED THAT HE WAS DEPARTING FROM A REMOTE LAKE THAT IS SURROUNDED BY 100 FEET TALL TREES. HE SAID THAT PRIOR TO STARTING HIS TAKEOFF RUN, HE ESTIMATED THE WINDS TO BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE, FAVORING AN EASTERLY TAKEOFF. HE REPORTED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE TREES, THE WIND INCREASED TO AN ESTIMATED 25 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR, AND A STRONG DOWNDRAFT PUSHED THE AIRPLANE INTO TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC99LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA123), Aug 23, 1999: Bellanca 8GCBC (N5047Y), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were variable winds, and a downdraft.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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