- Date
- October 1, 2016, 13:46 local (21:46 UTC)
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8922Bellanca 7GCBC
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 5, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20161001019739A
- Case key
- 94129
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 improper crosswind correction, which resulted in a loss of pitch control and nose-over.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the approach, he applied carburetor heat, set airspeed to 70 knots, and set the flaps to 1 notch less than full. He reported that the flare and touchdown on the gravel runway was "very smooth." However, he recalled that, when the tailwheel contacted the ground, the right wing ascended, and the left wing dragged across the ground. The pilot reported that the left wing strut failed and that the airplane nosed over and came to rest on the gravel runway. Additionally, the pilot noted that, after the accident, the wind sock indicated a direct crosswind from the right and varied between three-quarters to completely full. However, postaccident photographs of the airplane revealed that the airplane's left wing sustained damage to its top side. The bottom side of the left wing, the wing tip, and the wing strut revealed no indication of runway contact. The photographs revealed substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the approach he applied carburetor heat, set airspeed to 70 kts. and set the flaps to 1 notch less than full. He reported that the flare and touch down on the gravel runway was "very smooth". However, he recalled that when the tailwheel contacted the ground, the right wing ascended and the left wing was dragged across the ground. The pilot reported that the left wing strut failed, the airplane nosed over and came to rest on the gravel runway. Additionally, the pilot noted that after the accident, the wind sock indicated a direct crosswind from the right and varied between ¾ to completely full. However, post-accident photographs of the airplane reveal that the left wing of the airplane sustained damage to the top side of the wing. The bottom side of the left wing, the wing tip and the wing strut revealed no indication of runway contact. Photographs reveal substantial damage to the horizontal stabilizer and the rudder. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8922
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7GCBC (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 493-73
- Built
- 1973
- Airframe hours
- 1,843
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 27, 2016
- Departed
- FAI · Fairbanks, AK
- Destination
- FAI · Fairbanks, AK
- Airport
- FAI · Fairbanks Intl, runway 20, 2,900 × 75 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- None
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
- 61
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 13, 2016
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 202 total · 107 in this make and model · 144 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.81 inHg
- Observed at
- PAFA, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.