# NTSB LAX01LA230: Bellanca 8GCBC, N8638V, Nixon, NV, July 1, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2001, 17:45 local (Jul 1, 2001, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Nixon, NV - Coordinates: 39.834167, -119.354164 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8342&lon=-119.3542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Standards Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 52601 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52601/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA230 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to attain the proper touchdown point and his misjudged distance/speed during landing rollout. Factors were the tailwind condition and the downhill landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - downhill (contributing factor) - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The accident tow plane pilot intended to recover a glider that had made an off site landing on a hard gravel road. The glider's ground crew had positioned the glider about midway on the road, which was 4,000 feet long. The tow plane pilot's approach was slightly faster than intended, and the airplane landed long on the downhill road, with a slight tailwind. Also, the pilot misjudged the available stopping distance. As the tow plane approached the stationary glider, the pilot applied heavy breaks to decelerate, and the tow plane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2001, about 1745 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N8638V, operated by the Nevada Soaring Association, Inc., Reno, Nevada, nosed over during landing rollout on a road near Nixon, Nevada. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Sparks, Nevada, about 1730. The tow plane pilot stated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he planned to land on the road to pickup a glider, which had previously landed there. The ground crew indicated via radio that the road was long enough for him to land. The pilot stated to the investigator that his approach may have been slightly fast, and he touched down long on the downhill road with a slight tailwind. He also may have also misjudged the available stopping distance. As the tow plane approached the stationary glider, the pilot applied heavy breaks, and the tow plane nosed over. In the pilot's completed report he indicated that when he landed on the hard gravel road heading 180 degrees, the wind was from 300 degrees, at 5 knots. He also indicated that because the glider's ground crew had parked the glider in the middle of the road, the available 4,000-foot-long road landing area was reduced to about 2,000 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8638V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8638V), registered now, S/N 162-75, built 1975 (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: 162-75 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nevada Soaring Association, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NV23, SPARKS, NV - Destination: Nixon, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; flight instructor, military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 8, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 10,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 15 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 26 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 20010630027369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010630027369A), Jun 30, 2001: Bbavia 8GCBC, Nixon, NV, Substantial damage. (.19) On June 30, 2001, about 1745 hours pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N8638V, operated by the Nevada soaring association, inc., reno, Nevada, nosed… ## Other investigations on N8638V (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 LAX00LA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA303), Aug 16, 2000: Bellanca 8GCBC (N8638V), Reno, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure and separation of the right main landing gear. 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.