Bellanca 7GCBC N1163E

Summary

On 11 August 2002 at about 23:45 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N1163E was involved in an accident near Akiak, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 2002 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Akiak, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.8331, -160.9939

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N1163E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Akiak → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC02LA102

Nobody was injured.

The unsuitable and soft terrain in the area of a precautionary landing, which resulted in a nose over. Contributing factors in the accident were a false indication of smoke in the airplane during cruise flight, and weather conditions consisting of haze/smoke in the area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was in cruise flight about 500 feet above the ground with the private pilot/owner in the front seat, and his flight instructor in the rear seat. According to the pilot, the flight instructor was a passenger on the accident flight, not performing any instructional duties. The rear passenger said that he smelled smoke. The pilot said he thought the smell was from wood smoke in the area, and he entered an orbit while reviewing the airplane's checklist. The passenger again said, "we've got smoke back here, coming from the floorboards." The pilot asked the passenger if he was sure. The passenger replied, "we've got smoke." The pilot performed a precautionary landing in an area of tundra. During the landing roll, the tires of the airplane dug into the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over. No evidence of fire was discovered. According to the pilot, his total flight time was 105 hours, with 24 hours as pilot-in-command. The pilot had accrued 15 hours in the accident airplane make and model, with 5 hours as pilot-in-command.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.