# NTSB ANC08CA103: Bellanca 8GCBC, N2975Q, Northway, AK, August 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2008, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Northway, AK - Coordinates: 62.216667, -141.399993 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2167&lon=-141.4000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 69172 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69172/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08CA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather conditions while landing, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure; cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off airport site, adjacent to a small stream. He said that he approached the site from an upstream direction, and during touchdown the airplane landed hard, bounced, and he aborted the landing. During the second landing, he approached the site from a downstream direction, and during the landing roll, he discovered that the airplane's tailwheel was missing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. In his written report to the NTSB the pilot noted that after landing, he discovered that there was a slight breeze from an upstream direction. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. In the recommendation part of his written report, the pilot noted that the accident might have been prevented if he had taken more time to verify runway and wind conditions before landing, and operated the airplane at a lower gross weight. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off airport site, adjacent to a small stream. He said that he approached the site from an upstream direction, and during touchdown the airplane landed hard, bounced, and he aborted the landing. During the second landing, he approached the site from a downstream direction, and during the landing roll, he discovered that the airplane's tailwheel was missing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. In his written report to the NTSB the pilot noted that after landing, he discovered that there was a slight breeze from an upstream direction. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. In the recommendation part of his written report, the pilot noted that the accident might have been prevented if he had taken more time to verify runway and wind conditions before landing, and operated the airplane at a lower gross weight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2975Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2975Q), registered now, S/N 346-80, built 1980 (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-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 346-80 - Airframe hours: 3141 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Worker Timothy M - Registered owner: Worker Timothy M - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2008 - Departed: ORT, Northway, AK - Destination: Northway, AK - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 23, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 1,638 total, 1,188 in this make and model, 1,478 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg ## 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 20080809843999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080809843999A), Aug 9, 2008: Bbavia 8GCBC, Northway, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The PIC stated he was traveling from Northway to his cabin strip on the snag river. He circled the strip trying to determine wind direction. He attempted… ## Other investigations on N2975Q (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 ANC80DA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DA042), Apr 25, 1980: Bellanca 8GCBC (N2975Q), Kodiak, 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.