# NTSB ANC93LA157: Bellanca 7GCBC, N7637S, Beaver Creek, AK, August 26, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1993, 19:00 local (Aug 26, 1993, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Beaver Creek, AK
- Coordinates: 64.810752, -147.719223 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8108&lon=-147.7192&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 2413
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2413/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA157

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER ALTITUDE FLOWN BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - low pass - intentional, pilot in command
  - altitude - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE PERFORMING THE SECOND LOW PASS OVER AN AREA TO CHECK FOR A POTENTIAL FUTURE LANDING SITE, HE INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO CONTACT THE TERRAIN.  THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER.

## Factual narrative

On August 25, 1993, at 1900 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Bellanca 7GCBC airplane, N7637S, collided with the terrain and nosed over while making a low pass to evaluate a possible future landing area near Beaver Creek, located 56 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged.  The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Fairbanks at 1805, and was destined for the Beaver Creek area.  Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed.

Shortly after the accident, during a telephone conversation, the pilot stated the following in part:  "I was planning to 'drag the area', or make several passes to see if it might be a suitable place at which to land for a future hunting trip.  During the second pass the main wheels inadvertently touched down, and the airplane nosed over.  The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and one wing strut were damaged."

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7637S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 927-76
- Airframe hours: 1485
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Gossen, Christopher J.
- Registered owner: Gossen, Christopher J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, December 27, 1992, 1 hours before
- Departed: FAIRBANKS, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 200 total, 100 in this make and model, 170 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °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 19930825033709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930825033709A), Aug 25, 1993: Bbavia 7GCBC, Beaver Creek, AK, Substantial damage. Wheels hit ground during low pass over a prospective landing area. Aircraft nosed 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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