# NTSB ANC97LA057: Bellanca 8GCBC, N333HT, Palmer, AK, April 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 1997, 19:40 local (Apr 18, 1997, 03:40 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.619369, -148.980087 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6194&lon=-148.9801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2990 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2990/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA057 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight, and a foreign object (can) that became jammed under the rudder pedal, which resulted in an inadvertent activation of the right brake. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - flt control syst,rudder control - foreign object (cause) - flt control syst,rudder control - jammed (cause) - brakes(normal) - inadvertent activation (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot was landing a tail-wheel equipped airplane on a remote, 900 foot long gravel area. Just after touchdown, the pilot applied right rudder pressure. The airplane began to skid on the gravel surface, and then nosed over. After the accident, a can of spray wax was observed lodged under the right rudder pedal. The pilot indicated that when he applied right rudder pressure, the wedged spray can allowed the rudder pedal to pivot forward and activate the right toe brake. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 1997, about 1940 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Bellanca 8GCBC, N333HT, crashed during landing in a remote area, about 22 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1855. On April 21, 1997, at 0840, the pilot reported in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), that he was landing on a 900 foot long gravel area, located near Lake George, Alaska, and the Knick Glacier. He had landed at that location numerous times, and at the time of the accident, the wind conditions were calm. The pilot landed toward the south and just after touchdown, he applied right rudder pressure. The airplane began to skid on the gravel surface, and then nosed over. The airplane received damage to the right wing tip, the left wing lift strut, the vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. After the airplane was turned back over onto its landing gear, a can of spray wax was observed lodged under the right rudder pedal. The pilot indicated that when he applied right rudder pressure, the wedged spray can allowed the rudder pedal to pivot forward, and activate the right toe brake. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333HT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333HT), registered now, S/N 33380, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 8GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 333-80 - Airframe hours: 1809 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul F. Kanitz - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1996, 23 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,304 total, 1,233 in this make and model, 1,230 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 19970417009999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970417009999A), Apr 17, 1997: Bbavia 8GCBC, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. Skidded and nosed over landing on 900 ft long gravel strip. Found spray can wedged under right rudder pedal. ## Other investigations on N333HT (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 ANC90LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA150), Aug 9, 1990: Bellanca 8GCBC (N333HT), Ivishak River, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S DELAYED ATTEMPT TO GO-AROUND. 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.