# NTSB ANC11CA066: Bellanca 8GCBC, N5043N, Kantishna, AK, July 19, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 18, 2011, 16:00 local (Jul 19, 2011, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Kantishna, AK
- Coordinates: 63.780815, -148.519866 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.7808&lon=-148.5199&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81176
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81176/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81176
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA066

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate decision to make contact with an unsuitable landing surface, resulting in a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Other: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was performing a low reconnaissance pass over an area to determine its suitability for landing. He decided to lightly drag the airplane's main landing gear wheels on the landing surface to check for roughness, but the wheels settled into soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was performing a low reconnaissance pass over an area to determine its suitability for landing. He decided to lightly drag the airplane's main landing gear wheels on the landing surface to check for roughness, but the wheels settled into soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N5043N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 302-79
- Airframe hours: 17556
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2011, 50 hours before
- Departed: 5Z5, Kantishna, AK
- Destination: Kantishna, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 2,457 total, 1,306 in this make and model, 2,406 as pilot in command, 209 in the last 90 days, 131 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81176. 575 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 575 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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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