# NTSB SEA96LA109: Bellanca 8GCBC, N88401, Richland, WA, June 2, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 1, 1996, 18:30 local (Jun 2, 1996, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Richland, WA - Coordinates: 46.249843, -119.290008 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2498&lon=-119.2900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 3, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA109 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA109 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to perform a go-around and his subsequent excessive use of the aircraft brakes. The short airstrip length and the pilot's excessive airspeed for the approach were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was 'a little hot (short final approximately 62 mph indicated)' on his approach to the 1,000-foot-long gravel airstrip and that he considered, but did not perform, a go-around on two occasions during the approach. When he increased braking in an effort to stop the aircraft on the airstrip, the aircraft's tail came up. With its tail in the air, the aircraft then encountered soft dirt on the left edge of the airstrip and continued over onto its back. The pilot stated in his accident report that a 'go-around could have been made on very short final or immediately upon touch[down].' ## Factual narrative On June 1, 1996, at approximately 1830 Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, N88401, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing on a private 1,000-foot gravel strip near Richland, Washington. The commercial pilot/owner, who was the aircraft's sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 flight from Stehekin State Airport, Stehekin, Washington. The pilot reported: I made an approach for a landing to the west. Was a little hot (short final approximately 62 mph indicated) and touched down approximately 150-200 feet past the beginning of the strip; I considered a go-around but thought I still had distance remaining to stop....I pulled the flaps to put more load on the wheels and applied brakes; it was not slowing like I thought it should. I considered a go-around at this point but was not certain that I would be able to clear the trees at the west end of the strip, thus I applied more brake at which time the tail came up. Although I...came off the brakes...I was unable to get the tail back down at which point I hit the softer dirt on the left side of the gravel....the aircraft [pitched] farther forward...and then the aircraft continued over onto its back and came to rest. The pilot stated in his report that the wind sock at the airstrip indicated a right quartering head wind of about 5 knots at the time of the accident. The pilot made the following recommendation in his report as to how the accident could have been prevented: "Go around could have been made on very short final or immediately upon touch[down]." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88401](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88401), registered now, S/N 122-75, built 1974 (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: 122-75 - Airframe hours: 1663 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-C2E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clayton S. Kimball - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1995, 72 hours before - Departed: 6S9, STEHEKIN, WA - Airport: Rinear (Private), runway 27, 1,000 × 10 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,645 total, 225 in this make and model, 1,412 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19960601012359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960601012359A), Jun 1, 1996: Bbavia 8GCBC, Richland, WA, Substantial damage. Too fast landing on short gravel strip. Delayed go around. Hit brakes to stop. Mains hit soft spot. Nosed over. 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.