# NTSB ANC02LA102: Bellanca 7GCBC, N1163E, Akiak, AK, August 11, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2002, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Akiak, AK - Coordinates: 60.833057, -160.993896 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8331&lon=-160.9939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55535 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55535/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA102 ## Probable cause The unsuitable and soft terrain in the area of a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over. Contributing factors in the accident were a false indication of smoke in the airplane during cruise flight, and weather conditions consisting of haze/smoke in the area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, cruise - visual/aural perception, pilot passenger - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - miscellaneous,airframe - false indication (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (cause) - terrain condition - soft (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane was in cruise flight about 500 feet above the ground with the private pilot/owner in the front seat, and his flight instructor in the rear seat. According to the pilot, the flight instructor was a passenger on the accident flight, not performing any instructional duties. The rear passenger said that he smelled smoke. The pilot said he thought the smell was from wood smoke in the area, and he entered an orbit while reviewing the airplane's checklist. The passenger again said, "we've got smoke back here, coming from the floorboards." The pilot asked the passenger if he was sure. The passenger replied, "we've got smoke." The pilot performed a precautionary landing in an area of tundra. During the landing roll, the tires of the airplane dug into the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over. No evidence of fire was discovered. According to the pilot, his total flight time was 105 hours, with 24 hours as pilot-in-command. The pilot had accrued 15 hours in the accident airplane make and model, with 5 hours as pilot-in-command. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2002, about 1545 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Bellanca 7GCBC airplane, N1163E, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an off-airport precautionary landing, about 8 miles east-southeast of Akiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska, about 1330. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 13, the pilot reported that he was flying in the local area with his flight instructor who was seated in the rear seat. The flight instructor was a passenger on this flight, not performing any instructional duties. While in cruise flight about 500 feet above the ground, the rear passenger said that he smelled smoke. The pilot said he thought the smell was from wood smoke in the area, and he entered an orbit while reviewing the airplane's checklist. The passenger again said, "we've got smoke back here, coming from the floorboards." The pilot asked the passenger if he was sure. The passenger replied, "we've got smoke." The pilot performed an emergency landing in an area of tundra. During the landing roll, the tires of the airplane dug into the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over. In a telephone conversation on August 21, after the airplane was recovered, the pilot reported that the airplane received damage to the propeller, windshield, an upper fuselage stringer, and the right main landing gear attach point. No evidence of fire was discovered. According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that his total flight time was 105 hours, with 24 hours as pilot-in-command. The pilot also indicated he had accrued 15 hours in the accident airplane make and model, with 5 hours as pilot-in-command. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1163E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1163E), registered now, S/N 987-77 (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: 987-77 - Airframe hours: 3100 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William W. Eggimann - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 2001, 16 hours before - Departed: PABE, AKIAK, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 9, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 105 total, 15 in this make and model, 24 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.61 inHg - Observed at: PABE, 25 nm away ## 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 20020811024529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020811024529A), Aug 11, 2002: Bbavia 7GCBC, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) During a two hour flight, pilot william eggimann and his passenger/instructor smelled smoke in the aircraft. Aware of forest fires in the region, Mr.… ## Other investigations on N1163E (2) 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 ANC08LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA082), Jun 20, 2008: Bellanca 7GCBC (N1163E), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's lack of remedial action to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a berm. Contributing to the accident was… - [NTSB ANC86LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC86LA123), Aug 7, 1986: Champion 7GCBC (N1163E), Kuskatan River, AK, 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.