# Accident 19990919026169A: Bbavia 7GCBC, Fairbanks, AK, September 19, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 19, 1999, 13:00 local time - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 64.8998° N, 148.1596° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8998&lon=-148.1596&mi=10 - Aircraft: N53728, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53728) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bellanca 7GCBC (registry code 1220601, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7GCBC - Reported engine: LYC O320A2B - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 654 total, 632 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA149) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990919026169A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1999, ABOUT 1300 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED BELLANCA 7GCBC AIRPLANE, N53728, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AREA, ABOUT 47 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, AT LATITUDE 65 DEGREES, 35.5 MINUTES NORTH, AND LONGITUDE 147 DEGREES, 29.8 MINUTES WEST. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1999, THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED ON A SMALL RIDGE LINE A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT TO GO HUNTING. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE DIMENSIONS OF THE RIDGE CONSISTED OF A USEABLE AREA ABOUT 475 FEET LONG, AND 40 FEET WIDE. IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF, THE PILOT SAID HE PUSHED THE TAIL OF THE AIRPLANE TO THE REAR EDGE OF THE AREA. THE WIND CONDITION WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE. HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF RUN TOWARD THE NORTH, WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, BUT THEN BEGAN TO DESCEND. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB, AND SETTLED TOWARD NUMEROUS SMALL SPRUCE TREES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, AND NOSED OVER. IT RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, THE RIGHT WING LIFT STRUTS, AND THE LEFT WING SPAR. THE PILOT SAID HIS CARGO CONSISTED OF ABOUT 60 POUNDS OF CAMPING EQUIPMENT, AND ABOUT 60 POUNDS OF SHEEP MEAT. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE. (-23) A WHEEL EQUIPPED BELLANCA AIRPLANE, N53728 WAS TAKING OFF FROM A RIDGE EST 450' X 40' WIDE. WIND WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN HE ENCOUNTERED A TAIL WIND, A/C DESCENDED INTO TREES AT THE END OF THE RIDGE. (.4) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1999, ABOUT 1300 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED BELLANCA 7GCBC AIRPLANE, N53728, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AFTER COLLIDING WITH TREES DURING TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AREA, ABOUT 47 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF FAIRBANKS, ALASKA, AT LATITUDE 65 DEGREES, 35.5 MINUTES NORTH, AND LONGITUDE 147 DEGREES, 29.8 MINUTES WEST. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATE ED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) CROSS-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1999, THE PILOT REPORTED HE LANDED ON A SMALL RIDGE LINE AT 2,700 FEET MSL, A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT TO GO HUNTING. HE ESTIMATED THE DIMENSIONS OF THE RIDGE CONSISTED OF A USEABLE AREA ABOUT 475 FEET LONG, AND 40 FEET WIDE. IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF, HE PUSHED THE TAIL OF THE AIRPLANE TO THE REAR EDGE OF THE AREA. THE WIND CONDITION WAS LIGHT AND VARIABLE. HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF RUN TOWARD THE NORTH, WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY DOWNHILL. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF THE GROUND, BUT THEN BEGAN TO DESCEND. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB, AND SETTLED TOWARD NUMEROUS SMALL SPRUCE TREES. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TREES, AND NOSED OVER. IT RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR, THE RIGHT WING LIFT STRUTS, AND THE LEFT WING SPAR. THE PILOT SAID HIS CARGO CONSISTED OF ABOUT 60 POUNDS OF CAMPING EQUIPMENT, AND ABOUT 60 POUNDS OF SHEEP MEAT. HE ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE. IN THE PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT (NTSB FORM 6120.1/2) SUBMITTED BY THE PILOT, THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A TAILWIND GUST, OR SWIRLING WIND AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RIDGE. ## 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 ANC99LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA149), Sep 19, 1999: Bellanca 7GCBC (N53728), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors in the accident were a windshear, and a short runway area. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.