# NTSB ANC96LA036: Bellanca 7ECA, N5169X, Chugiak, AK, March 22, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 1996, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.409461, -149.1707 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4095&lon=-149.1707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 25, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA036 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2810/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA036 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for landing. ## 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 - from landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - from landing ## Analysis The pilot landed his wheel-equipped airplane on a snow covered portion of taxiway that had been designated for ski-equipped airplanes. The pilot said he elected to land there instead of on the adjoining runway because the runway had patches of ice interspersed with clear pavement. The airplane landed without incident. While still on the ski strip and taxiing to parking, the tailwheel started to dig into the snow. The pilot said he applied additional power to lift the tailwheel free from the snow and increase his taxi speed. The airplane's left main landing gear wheel subsequently dug into to soft snow, and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On March 22, 1996, about 1000 Alaska standard time, a wheel equipped Bellanca 7ECA airplane, N5169X, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during taxi from landing at the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The local 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported he landed to the north on the "ski strip", which is a taxiway adjacent to runway 01/19. The last 2,500 feet (south end)of the taxiway is a designated landing area for ski equipped airplanes. The pilot said the landing was uneventful, and he was taxiing to parking, when the tailwheel acted like it was digging into the snow. He applied power, lifted the tailwheel, and continued taxiing at a faster speed on the main landing gear wheels only. The left main landing gear wheel subsequently encountered a soft spot in the snow and dug in. The airplane stopped abruptly, and then nosed over. The airplane sustained damage to the right wing spar and lift strut. The pilot wrote in his report to the NTSB that he elected to land on the ski strip because the main runway had patches of uneven ice adjacent to clean pavement. He also wrote: "In hindsight I realized that if any doubt exists as to surface conditions, or if any operation has any amount of doubt, it's best to wait for better conditions... ." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5169X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5169X), registered now, S/N 676, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7ECA - Registry model: [Champion 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7eca) (registry code 21101NN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 676 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-21 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Eric J. Brinegar - Registered owner: Kenneth D. Kastner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 1995 - Departed: BCV - Airport: BCV, Birchwood, runway 1, 4,000 × 30 ft, snow ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 546 total, 7 in this make and model, 477 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °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 19960322007479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960322007479A), Mar 22, 1996: Bbavia 7ECA, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. Wheel equipped aircraft nosed over on taxi from landing. Tail up fast taxi. Wheel hit soft spot. Plane nosed over. ## Other investigations on N5169X (2) 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 ANC25LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA062), Jul 2, 2025: Champion 7ECA (N5169X), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s excessive use of brakes during landing roll, which resulted in a nose-over. - [NTSB CHI73FEV10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEV10), Sep 4, 1972: Champion 7ECA (N5169X), Pittsfield, IL, substantial damage 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.