# NTSB ANC16CA073: Bellanca 7GCBC, N5507K, Soldotna, AK, September 22, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2016, 16:00 local (Sep 22, 2016, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.740276, -152.211669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7403&lon=-152.2117&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94178 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC16CA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94178/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94178 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16CA073 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an adequate glidepath during landing, which resulted in an unintended touchdown before the chosen landing area. ## 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: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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) - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while on a personal cross-country flight and approaching his destination airstrip, smoke in the cockpit and oil on the windscreen limited his forward visibility. He said that, while landing, he inadvertently touched down about 15 yards short of the site. The right wing struck a stand of brush, which pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left wing subsequently struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and fuselage. After the accident, the pilot would not disclose to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or the Alaska State Troopers where the airplane was located. Thus, neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor NTSB could examine the airplane after the accident. The airplane was eventually recovered to Soldotna, Alaska, where an FAA airworthiness aviation safety inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office examined it. The FAA inspector reported that the accident pilot had since sold the airplane on an "as is where is" basis. The new owner reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane except for the damage sustained in the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while on a personal cross-country flight, and while approaching his destination airstrip, smoke in the cockpit and oil on the windscreen limited his forward visibility. He said that while landing he inadvertently touched down about 15 yards short of the site. The right wing struck a stand of brush, which pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left wing subsequently struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar and fuselage. After the accident, the pilot would not disclose to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or the Alaska State Troopers where the airplane was located. Thus, neither the Federal Aviation Administration nor NTSB could examine the airplane after the accident. The airplane was eventually recovered to Soldotna, Alaska, where a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness aviation safety inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office inspected it. The FAA inspector reported that the accident pilot had since sold the airplane on an "as is where is" basis. The new owner reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane besides the damage sustained in the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5507K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5507K-2019-10-05), registration cancelled 2019-10-05, S/N 1042-78 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC (NO SERIES) - 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: 1042-78 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 2100 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SXQ, SOLDOTNA, AK - Destination: Soldotna, AK - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,500 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.31 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: PAEN, 30 nm away ## 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 20160921019509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160921019509A), Sep 21, 2016: Bellanca 7GCBC, Big River, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was in route to a camp when engine oil pressure fluctuation began. Fumes and smoke entered the cabin. The pilot's vision was obscured by apparent smoke.… ## Other investigations on N5507K (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 CHI79FEP39](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FEP39), Apr 1, 1979: Bellanca 7GCBC (N5507K), Bristol, WI, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94178. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 978 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 328 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40452828&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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. --- 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.