# NTSB ANC12CA078: Bellanca 7GCBC, N53977, Talkeetna, AK, July 20, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 20, 2012, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.44926, -149.790237 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4493&lon=-149.7902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 84393 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84393/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84393 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA078 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's and student pilot's excessive application of brakes during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in a noseover. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and pilot-rated student were practicing off-airport landings and takeoffs in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. After landing on a gravel bar, the instructor and student surveyed the takeoff area on foot. During the subsequent takeoff run, the airplane was not accelerating as hoped, and, just prior to the abort point, the instructor told the student to abort the takeoff. The instructor joined the student pilot on the controls. During the attempt to stop the airplane, the brakes were applied too heavily, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor and pilot-rated student were practicing off-airport landings and takeoffs in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. After landing on a gravel bar, the instructor and student surveyed the takeoff area on foot. During the subsequent takeoff run the airplane was not accelerating as hoped, and just prior to the abort point, the instructor told the student to abort the takeoff. The instructor joined the student pilot on the controls. During the attempt to stop the airplane the brakes were applied too heavily, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N53977](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53977), registered now, S/N 921-76, built 1976 (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: 921-76 - Airframe hours: 2524 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Above Alaska Aviation, LLC, doing business as Above Alaska Aviation - Registered owner: Aspenglow LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 2012 - Departed: PATK, Talkeetna, AK - Destination: Talkeetna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 320 total, 22 in this make and model, 282 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 6, 2011; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,543 total, 146 in this make and model, 1,493 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 119 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 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 20120720017409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120720017409A), Jul 20, 2012: Bellanca 7GCBC, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. While practicing off-airport landings on a gravel bar, the airmen initiated an aborted takeoff because the aircraft did not leave the ground as expected. The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 20, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84393. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375568&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. --- 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.