# NTSB ANC93LA164: Bellanca 7GCBC, N10987, Delta River, AK, September 1, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 1993, 21:00 local (Sep 1, 1993, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Delta River, AK - Coordinates: 63.699069, -144.889724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6991&lon=-144.8897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2419 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA164 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2419/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA164 ## Probable cause THE PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM AN UNPREPARED REMOTE SITE APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET LONG. JUST AFTER THE AIRPLANE GOT AIRBORNE IT STARTED TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT SUFFICIENTLY BEFORE HITTING AN EMBANKMENT AND COMING TO A STOP IN THE BUSHES. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS CLOSE TO ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 1993, at 2100 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Bellanca 7GCBC airplane, N10987, lost control and crashed into the bushes while attempting to takeoff from a remote landing area on the Delta River, and approximately 20 miles south of Delta Junction, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 at the time. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview on September 1, 1993, the pilot stated the following in part: "The purpose of the flight was to check out the area for future moose hunting. I landed at the area with no problem, then cut down some bushes and prepared about 600 feet for my takeoff. The airplane was pretty close to its maximum gross weight. I used two notches of flaps for the takeoff. Just after getting airborne, the airplane started turning to the right and I was not able to correct sufficiently before I hit an embankment and came to a stop in the bushes. The left main landing gear and the right wheel were torn off, both wings were damaged, and the tail and fuselage were bent." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10987](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10987), registered now, S/N 330-72, 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: 330-72 - Airframe hours: 1500 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bernhard, John P. - Registered owner: Bernhard, John P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1993, 80 hours before - Destination: D66, DELTA JUNCTION, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 189 total, 78 in this make and model, 122 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - 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 19930831033629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930831033629A), Aug 31, 1993: Bbavia 7GCBC, Delta River, AK, Substantial damage. Took off from 600 foot rough unimproved strip. Lost control. Right wing dropped and hit embankment. ## Other investigations on N10987 (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 ANC08LA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA058), Apr 26, 2008: Bellanca 7GCBC (N10987), Tetlin, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The instructor pilot's inadequate supervision of the student, resulting in a loss of control while landing. 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.