# NTSB ANC83FA178: Bellanca 7GCBC, N68564, Fairbanks, AK, September 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 19, 1983, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Fairbanks, AK
- Coordinates: 64.809036, -147.720367 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8090&lon=-147.7204&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4061
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC83FA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4061/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83FA178

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A SAND BAR AND NOSED OVER WHILE STEP TAXIING ON A RIVER DURING A TRAINING FLT. THE CFI SAID HE COULD NOT SEE CLEARLY FROM THE REAR SEAT AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE SAND BAR UNTIL IT WAS STRUCK. HE DID NOT FILE AN ACCIDENT REPORT. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT, IN HIS OPINION, THE ACCIDENT WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF THE STUDENT HAD NOTREDUCED POWER WHEN HE OBSERVED THE SANDBAR. THE STUDENT STATED THAT HE NEVER SAW THE SANDBAR AND ONLY REDUCED POWER AFTER THE ACFT RAN AGROUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N68564](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68564), registered now, S/N 394-72, built 1972 (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: 394-72
- Airframe hours: 609
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Larry'S Flying  Service
- Registered owner: Nichols T. Merrill
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 3, 1983, 98 hours before
- Departed: MTF, FAIRBANKS
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,402 total, 39 in this make and model, 3,282 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F

## 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 19830919050219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830919050219A), Sep 19, 1983: Bbavia 7GCBC, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Collided with sandbar during step taxiing in tanana river.

## Other investigations on N68564 (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 CEN12LA556](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA556), Aug 19, 2012: Bellanca 7GCBC (N68564), Sidney, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's misuse of the brakes during landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

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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