# NTSB DEN84LA051: Bellanca 7GCBC, N53846, Escalante, UT, December 26, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 26, 1983, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC)
- Place: Escalante, UT
- Coordinates: 37.769542, -111.599342 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7695&lon=-111.5993&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16307/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA051

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - maneuver - performed, pilot in command
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

ABOUT 15 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT REDUCED THE POWER TO APRX 40 TO 50% & DESCENDED TO ABOUT 300 FT AGL. WHEN HE TRIED TO INCREASE POWER, THE ENG FALTERED. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR (CARB) HEAT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER IN TIME TO PREVENT A FORCED LANDING. DURING THE LANDING, HE WAS ABLE TO BARELY CLEAR THE TOPS OF SEVERAL TREES, THEN 'PANCAKED IN & FLIPPED OVER.' THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 34 & 32 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, SERIOUS CARB ICING COULD HAVE OCCURRED IN THESE CONDITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N53846 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 888-76
- Airframe hours: 1184
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wallace Woolsey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 15, 1983, 91 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,548 total, 378 in this make and model, 1,492 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F
- Observed at: BCE, 33 nm away

## 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 19831226064869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831226064869A), Dec 26, 1983: Bbavia 7GCBC, Escalante, UT, Substantial damage. Aircraft flipped inverted during emergency 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.

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