# NTSB ANC23LA069: Bellanca 8GCBC, N723AK, Cordova, AK, September 3, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 2, 2023, 20:10 local (Sep 3, 2023, 04:10 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.494294, -145.48603 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4943&lon=-145.4860&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 192991 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC23LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192991/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192991 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA069 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control. ## 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: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/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 reported that during landing, the airplane stalled about 5 to 10 feet above the ground and bounced off the runway surface. He applied full power and removed carburetor heat to perform a go-around procedure. The airplane impacted a berm adjacent to the runway and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N723AK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N723AK), registered now, S/N 76-74, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-series) (registry code 41524, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 76-74 - Year built: 1974 - Airframe hours: 1733.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 19, 2023, 4.7 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CDV, Merle K Smith Airport, runway 09, 7,500 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 865 total, 382 in this make and model, 788 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PACV, 1 nm away - METAR: PACV 030453Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 10/08 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP149 T01000083 PNO ## 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 20230902018029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230902018029A), Sep 2, 2023: Bellanca 8GCBC, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. Pilots statement: while landing 09 Cordova pacv during a 3 point landing aircraft stalled approximately 5-10' off the ground and bounced, I applied full power… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192991. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16190317&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA069%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16190181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC23LA069%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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.