20020801017109A

(.19) ON AUGUST 1, 2002, ABOUT 1700 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA-TIRE EQUIPPED BELLANCA 8GCBC AIRPLANE, N53828, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN ABORTED LANDING AT A REMOTE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP 45 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF FAIRBANKS, 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 CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, AND THE SOLE PASSENGER, WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FAIRBANKS, ABOUT 1430. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON AUGUST 1, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST TOUCHED DOWN ON THE AIRSTRIP WHEN HE THOUGHT THE LEFT WHEEL HIT SOMETHING, AND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO BECOME AIRBORNE. HE SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, AND REALIZED HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIRSTRIP LEFT TO CONTINUE THE LANDING, AND HE ABORTED THE LANDING. HE SAID AS THE AIRPLANE APPROACHED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE AIRSTRIP, WHICH WAS ABOUT 900 FEET LONG, THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT CLIMBING FAST ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE WILLOWS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WILLOWS AND THEN IMPACTED THE CREEK BANK AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST WITH ITS TAIL PARTIALLY SUBMERGED IN THE CREEK, WITH THE WINGS, FUSELAGE, AND TAIL SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE PRIOR TO, OR DURING THE FLIGHT. (-23) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AIRMAN LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ON LANDING, ON PRIVATELY OWNED GRAVEL STRIP.