# NTSB ANC05CA012: Bellanca 8GCBC, N86901, Skwentna, AK, October 30, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 30, 2004, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.95, -151.19667
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9500&lon=-151.1967&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60723
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60723/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA012

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in a nose over during the landing roll.  A factor associated with the accident was deep crusted snow.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

The private certificated pilot was landing on a snow-covered gravel bar.  The pilot said that prior to landing, he made two passes over the site and visually checked the condition of the landing site before the accident landing.  He said that during the landing roll, the main landing gear tires broke through the top layer of deep crusted snow, and the airplane nosed over.  The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and rudder.  The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On October 30, 2004, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped  Bellanca 8GCBC airplane, N86901, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote off-airport site, located about 9 miles south of Skwentna, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The solo private certificated pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1415.  No flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on November 1, the pilot reported that he was landing on a snow-covered gravel bar.  The pilot said that prior to landing, he made two passes over the site and visually checked the condition of the landing site before the accident landing.  He said that during the landing roll, the main landing gear tires broke through the top layer of deep crusted snow, and the airplane nosed over.  The airplane sustained structural damage to the left wing and rudder.  The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86901](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86901), registered now, S/N 23-74, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bellanca 8GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23-74
- Airframe hours: 1268
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Preston Rudderow
- Registered owner: Preston Rudderow
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 15, 2004, 83 hours before
- Departed: MRI, Anchorage, AK
- Destination: Skwentna, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 29, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 650 total, 450 in this make and model, 590 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F

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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