# NTSB ANC91LA117: Bellanca 7GCBC, N8684V, Seward, AK, August 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1991, 20:15 local (Aug 8, 1991, 04:15 UTC)
- Place: Seward, AK
- Coordinates: 60.050918, -149.329513 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0509&lon=-149.3295&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5594
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5594/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA117

## Probable cause

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S (PIC) FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING AT A LOW ALTITUDE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE MANEUVERING AT 100 TO 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED AT THE 2,000 FOOT LEVEL. JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT WAS MAKING A STEEP RIGHT TURN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8684V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8684V-1992-08-13), registration cancelled 1992-08-13, S/N 82975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 829-75
- Airframe hours: 1697
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: James Wickersham
- Registered owner: Salmon Operation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 1991, 100 hours before
- Departed: SWD, SEWARD, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 535 total, 470 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19910807032629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910807032629A), Aug 7, 1991: Bbavia 7GCBC, Seward, AK, Substantial damage. Stalled and crashed into a mountain ridge while maneuvering at 100 feet AGL.

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.