# NTSB ANC01LA144: Bellanca 7GCBC, N8943, Mentasta, AK, September 22, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 22, 2001, 15:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Mentasta, AK - Coordinates: 62.866943, -143.598052 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.8669&lon=-143.5981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA144 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54912/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA144 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while landing. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, and a variable wind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - variable wind (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The certificated private pilot was landing to the east on a portion of remote highway. As the airplane's main wheels touched down, the airplane bounced. As the pilot recovered from the bounce, a gust of wind from the left lifted the left wing, and the airplane drifted to the right. The airplane's right wing collided with a stand of trees and sustained substantial damage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 22, 2001, about 1540 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Bellanca 7GCBC airplane, N8943, sustained substantial damage during landing at an off-airport site, about 1 mile southeast of Mentasta Lake, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1340, from the Palmer Airport, Palmer, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 28, the pilot reported that he was landing to the east on a portion of remote highway. He said that as the airplane's main wheels touched down, the airplane bounced. He said that during recovery from the bounce, a gust of wind from the left lifted the left wing, and the airplane drifted to the right. The airplane's right wing collided with a stand of trees and sustained substantial damage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8943](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8943-2017-07-20), registration cancelled 2017-07-20, S/N 607-74, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 607-74 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Running Dog Publications, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAL, Palmer, AK - Destination: Mentasta, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 27, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 975 total, 945 in this make and model, 975 as pilot in command, 118 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 15 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 39 °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 20010922024569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010922024569A), Sep 22, 2001: Bbavia 7GCBC, Mentastavillage, No damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land on small road near mentasta village. Upon touchdown the aircraft made a small bounce back into the air. A strong gust of… ## Other investigations on N8943 (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 LAX82DA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82DA150), Apr 29, 1982: Bellanca 7GCBC (N8943), Deeth, NV, substantial damage 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. --- 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.