# NTSB ANC14CA090: Bellanca 8GCBC, N2976M, Port Alsworth, AK, September 30, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 29, 2014, 16:00 local (Sep 30, 2014, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Port Alsworth, AK
- Coordinates: 60.200603, -154.280151 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.2006&lon=-154.2802&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 13, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90298
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA090
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90298/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90298
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA090

## Probable cause

The pilots failure to maintain control of the airplane during an aborted landing in gusty wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was landing at a remote, off airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated that he made two low passes over the airstrip and was making a full stop landing on the third pass. During the landing he stated the airplane bounced, and he attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing a gust of wind picked up the left wing and the right wing contacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was landing at a remote, off airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He stated that he made two low passes over the airstrip and was making a full stop landing on the third pass. During the landing he stated the airplane bounced, and he attempted to abort the landing. During the aborted landing a gust of wind picked up the left wing and the right wing contacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2976M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2976M-2018-02-13), registration cancelled 2018-02-13, S/N 347-80, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 347-80
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 1999.8
- Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 17, 2013, 85 hours before
- Departed: AK51, Port Alsworth, AK
- Destination: Port Alsworth, AK
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,110.5 total, 241.1 in this make and model, 1,063.4 as pilot in command, 321 in the last 90 days, 77.5 in the last 30 days, 6.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 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 20140929018519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140929018519A), Sep 29, 2014: Bellanca 8GCBC, Port Alsworth, AK, Substantial damage. Airman was landing off-airport. He did a low pass to survey the landing area. When he came back around for the first landing, he encountered gusty winds and…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90298. 956 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 956 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40418469&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-Master.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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