- Date
- August 23, 1999, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5047YBellanca 8GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19990823013349A
- Case key
- 47321
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were variable winds, and a downdraft.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated private pilot related that he was departing from a remote lake that is surrounded by 100 feet tall trees. He said that prior to starting his takeoff run, he estimated the winds to be light and variable, favoring an easterly takeoff. He reported that just after takeoff, about 50 feet above the trees, the wind increased to an estimated 25 to 30 miles per hour, and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane into trees. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On August 23, 1999, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Bellanca 8GCBC airplane, N5047Y, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees while departing from Memory Lake, located about 5 miles north of Wasilla, Alaska. The private pilot/airplane owner and the one passenger aboard received minor injuries. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 24, the pilot related that he was departing from a remote lake that is surrounded by 100 feet tall trees. He said that prior to starting his takeoff run, he estimated the winds to be light and variable, favoring an easterly takeoff. He reported that just after takeoff, about 50 feet above the trees, the wind increased to an estimated 25 to 30 miles per hour, and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane into trees.
The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5047Y
- Reported as
- Bellanca 8GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 331-79
- Airframe hours
- 3,000
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Stephan K. Apgar
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1999 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- IYS · Wasllia, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,130 total · 55 in this make and model · 1,077 as pilot in command · 55 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.