# NTSB ANC00LA019: Bellanca 8GCBC, N53910, Wasilla, AK, December 11, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 11, 1999, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Coordinates: 61.45943, -150.090362 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4594&lon=-150.0904&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 17, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48514
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48514/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA019

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to remove frost from the wing surface of the airplane.  A factor in the accident was the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff run.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, takeoff - roll/run
  - ice/frost removal from aircraft - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - abort - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

The commercial certificated pilot was departing his private airstrip toward the north.  The airstrip, oriented north/south, is about 1,200 feet long, and 125 feet wide.  The airstrip surface was packed snow.  The pilot said the wings of the airplane were coated with frost.  He began a takeoff run, but the airplane did not lift off the ground. He then aborted the takeoff.  The airplane went off the end of the airstrip and into a ditch.  The airplane received damage to the landing gear, cowling, propeller, and the right wing lift strut.

## Factual narrative

On December 11, 1999, about 1300 Alaska standard time, a tundra tire equipped Bellanca 8GCBC airplane, N53910, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a private airstrip, about 10 miles south-southeast of Wasilla, Alaska, about latitude 61 degrees, 27 minutes north, and longitude 149 degrees, 45.2 minutes west.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the pilot.  The commercial 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 December 13, 1999, the pilot reported that he was departing his private airstrip toward the north.  The airstrip, oriented north/south, is about 1,200 feet long, and 125 feet wide.  The airstrip surface was packed snow.  The pilot said the wings of the airplane were coated with frost.  He began a takeoff run, but the airplane did not lift off the ground.  He then aborted the takeoff.  The airplane went off the end of the airstrip and into a ditch.  The airplane received damage to the landing gear, cowling, propeller, and the right wing lift strut.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N53910 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Bellanca 8GCBC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 192-76
- Airframe hours: 1624
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Steven B. Grand
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 1999, 60 hours before
- Airport: Grand'S, runway 36, 1,200 × 125 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 560 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 10 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19991211046719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991211046719A), Dec 11, 1999: Bbavia 8GCBC, Goosebay, AK, No damage. (-23) On December 11th, 1999, at about 1300 Alaska standard time, a Bellanca 8 gcbc airplane, N53910 sustained substantial damage during takeoff from an…

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.

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