# NTSB ANC08LA082: Bellanca 7GCBC, N1163E, Chugiak, AK, June 20, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2008, 20:30 local (Jun 20, 2008, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.41611, -149.508331 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4161&lon=-149.5083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 68360 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68360/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA082 ## 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 the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control, and his lack of tailwheel experience. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: incomplete action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 105 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot, seated in the front seat of a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane, landed on the edge of an asphalt portion of the runway, and then rolled onto a gravel portion of the runway. At that time, the airplane immediately veered about 45 degrees to the left. He applied right rudder and right aileron, but no directional correction occurred. The flight instructor reported that as the pilot was applying right aileron control input, he put hand pressure on the rear control stick to the right, but he noted that the pilot already had full right control deflection. The pilot applied full power to abort the landing, but then decided to pull the engine power to idle. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with a berm. The pilot did not have a tailwheel endorsement. A certificated flight instructor who had a tailwheel endorsement, was seated in the rear seat of the airplane, but was unable to gain control of the airplane before it struck the berm. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2008, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped Bellanca 7GCBC airplane, N1163E, sustained substantial damage when it veered off the runway, and collided with a berm while landing at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane, utilized by several local pilots belonging to the Knik Flying Club, Chugiak, was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the certificated flight instructor, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 20, the pilot reported that he was landing on runway 19L, which is 50 feet wide. The first 600 feet of the runway has an asphalt surface. The pilot said he landed on the edge of the asphalt portion, and then rolled onto the gravel portion. At that time, the airplane immediately veered about 45 degrees to the left. He applied right rudder and right aileron, but no directional correction occurred. He applied full power to abort the landing, but then decided to pull the engine power to idle. The flight instructor reported that as the pilot was applying right aileron control input, he put hand pressure on the rear control stick to the right, but he noted that the pilot already had full right control deflection. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and collided with a berm. The left wing received minor damage, and the left main landing gear strut was bent upward. At 2036, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at the Birchwood Airport was reporting, in part: Wind, 230 degrees (true) at 8 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 6,000 feet overcast; temperature, 57 degrees F; dew point, 46 degrees F; altimeter, 30.09 inHg. On July 3, an FAA certificated mechanic reported that the airplane received minor damage to the left wingtip, twisting of the fuselage at the tailwheel, a broken tailwheel spring, and structural damage to the forward left wing lift strut. The pilot, seated in the front seat, was issued a private pilot certificate about 3 months before the accident, and indicated that he had about 60 total hours. He did not have a tailwheel endorsement. The flight instructor, seated in the rear seat, indicated that he had a tailwheel endorsement. ## 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 - Engines: Lycoming O-0320A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Randy Coyne - Registered owner: N1163e LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PABV, Chugiak, AK - Airport: PABV, Birchwood, runway 19L, 1,802 × 50 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 41; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,121 total, 5 in this make and model, 1,047 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days - Student pilot; age 41; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 19, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 58 total, 31 in this make and model, 21 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: PABV ## 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 20080620841419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080620841419A), Jun 20, 2008: Bbavia 7GCBC, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The student pilot was manipulating the controls while landing on runway 19L at Birchwood. Upon touchdown, the student pilot lost control and the aircraft… ## 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 ANC02LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA102), Aug 11, 2002: Bellanca 7GCBC (N1163E), Akiak, AK, substantial damage. 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… - [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.