# Accident 19991003028949A: Bbavia 7GCBC, Anchorage, AK, October 3, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 3, 1999, 15:10 local time - Place: Anchorage, AK - Airport: Lake Hood Strip Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.1602° N, 149.9898° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1602&lon=-149.9898&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4156Y, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4156Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Bellanca 7GCBC (registry code 1220601, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7GCBC - Reported engine: LYC O320A2D - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 1,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 80 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA001) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991003028949A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON OCTOBER 3, 1999, ABOUT 1510 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL EQUIPPED BELLANCA 7GCBC AIRPLANE, N4156Y, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM THE LAKE HOOD AIRSTRIP, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PRIVATE PILOT, AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING AN ON-SCENE INTERVIEW WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC) ON OCTOBER 3, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DEPARTING ON RUNWAY 31. HE REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, AND WHILE APPROACHING THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. HE SAID THAT HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A TUNDRA-COVERED MARSH, JUST OFF THE END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN WHEELS CONTACTED THE SOFT, BOGGY TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, RIGHT LIFT-STRUT, AND EMPENNAGE. THE AIRPLANE OWNER RECOVERED THE AIRPLANE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE, AND RETURNED IT TO HIS PARKING TIE-DOWN AREA. ON OCTOBER 4, THE IIC REMOVED THE ENGINE CARBURETOR, AND FOUND ABOUT 10CC OF RUSTY-COLORED FLUID, ALONG WITH CLEAN FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL. THE RUSTY-COLORED FLUID TESTED POSITIVE FOR WATER, WHEN TESTED WITH WATER DETECTION PASTE. (-23) AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET IN THE AIR ON TAKE OFF FROM LAKE HOOD STRIP THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE SWAMP AT THE END OF RUNWAY 31 LAKE HOOD GRAVEL STRIP. ON TOUCH DOWN IN THE SWAMP AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER ON IT'S BACK AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. (.4) THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, WITH ONE PASSENGER ABOARD, WAS DEPARTING FROM THE LAKE HOOD AIRSTRIP. AS THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. THE AIRPLANE LANDED IN AN AREA OF TUNDRA-COVERED MARSH, JUST OFF THE END OF THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN WHEELS CONTACTED THE SOFT, BOGGY TERRAIN, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE'S CARBURETOR REVEALED ABOUT 10CC OF RUSTY-COLORED FLUID, ALONG WITH CLEAN FUEL IN THE AIRPLANE'S CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL. THE RUSTY-COLORED FLUID TESTED POSITIVE FOR WATER, WHEN TESTED WITH WATER DETECTION PASTE. THE FLUID SAMPLE WAS RELEASED TO THE ACCIDENT PILOT AT HIS REQUEST. THE ACCIDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT THE FLUID CONTAINED THERAPEUTIC LEVELS OF FLUORIDE, COMMONLY FOUND IN TAP WATER. THE PILOT DID NOT SUBMIT THE TEST RESULTS REPORT TO THE NTSB. ## 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 ANC00LA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA001), Oct 3, 1999: Bellanca 7GCBC (N4156Y), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection to remove all contaminated fuel from the fuel system. A factor associated with the accident was an unsuitable terrain condition for landing. 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.