# NTSB ANC07LA036: Bellanca 8KCAB, N5038K, Girdwood, AK, May 4, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 2007, 19:10 local (May 4, 2007, 03:10 UTC) - Place: Girdwood, AK - Coordinates: 61.1025, -148.998336 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1025&lon=-148.9983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65741 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65741/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA036 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from terrain while maneuvering, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a glacier. Factors contributing to the accident were snow-covered terrain, and flat light conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was flying over a group of hikers/skiers that were on a remote glacier. After a second pass over the group, about 80 feet agl, the airplane continued away from the group, but collided with the ice and snow-covered surface of the glacier and overturned. The skiers gave aid to the pilot and called for rescue personnel. The witness reported that the weather on the glacier at the time was an overcast sky, and a ceiling of about 600 feet. He also said there was flat light conditions and a haze. The pilot reported that when he flew over the ski members on the glacier, he had a visual horizon and could see the sky. He said he thought he was about 200 feet above the ground. During a second pass, the lighting conditions changed from bright to hazy, and the pilot indicated he probably was looking at the snow covered surface of the glacier. He said the airplane was descending, and he thought the glacier was also descending. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 2007, about 1910 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Bellanca 8KCAB airplane, N5038K, sustained substantial damage when it collided with snow and ice-covered terrain, about 9 miles north of Girdwood, 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, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, and no flight plan was filed. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel reported that the airplane crash was seen by hikers on the Eagle Glacier. The hikers gave medical aid to the pilot, and called for rescue personnel. The pilot and the hikers were transported from the glacier about 2030. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 10, one of the hikers/witnesses reported that a group of mountaineering club members were on the Eagle Glacier during a personal back-country ski trip. The pilot was reported to have been flying in the area of the ski trip members to check on their progress. The pilot made a low pass over the group, and then returned for another pass. The airplane flew over the group on the second pass about 80 feet above the snow and ice covered glacier. The airplane continued toward the northwest, collided with the glacier about 150 yards from the group, and overturned. The ski trip members pulled the pilot from the airplane and began medical aid. They then called for rescue personnel. The witness reported that the weather conditions on the glacier at the time was an overcast sky, with a ceiling of about 600 feet. The witness said there was flat light conditions and a haze. On May 12, 2007, the pilot reported via telephone that when he flew over the ski members on the glacier, he had a visual horizon and could see the sky. He said he thought he was about 200 feet above the ground. During a second pass, the lighting conditions changed from bright to hazy, and the pilot indicated he probably was looking at the snow covered surface of the glacier. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot said he encountered a high overcast over the glacier, and a slight beam of light that penetrated the overcast. He said that during a third circle over the area, the airplane was descending, and he thought the terrain of the glacier was also descending. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5038K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5038K), registered now, S/N 482.79, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 482-79 - Airframe hours: 1169 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gregory T. Grubba - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2007, 221 hours before - Departed: PAMR, Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 650 total, 321 in this make and model, 595 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °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 20070504010819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070504010819A), May 4, 2007: Bbavia 8KCAB, Girdwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was overflying a party of campers near the eagle glacier, with the intent of dropping some brownies to them. According to witnesses on the ground,… 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.