Bellanca 8GCBC N86911

Summary

On 15 February 2005 at about 17:00 local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC registered N86911 was involved in an accident near Koyukuk, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 February 2005 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Koyukuk, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.3067, -157.6636

Aircraft

Bellanca 8GCBC

Registration

N86911

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Koyukuk → Galena

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05LA035

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in an in flight collision with the snow during takeoff initial climb. A factor contributing to the accident was soft snow conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After taxiing to the north end of a remote, snow-covered lake that was 3,000 feet long, the private certificated pilot took off in a ski-equipped airplane. The pilot said the snow was about 5 feet deep, and the temperature was about 40 degrees F, making the snow conditions sticky. He indicated that his departure was toward the south, and the wind was from the south, about 10 knots. He applied full engine power and began the takeoff run, which was initially slow until the skis of the airplane dropped into previously compacted ski tracks. The airplane lifted off from the snow near the south end of the lake, and climbed to about 5 feet above the snow. The pilot said he began a gentle left turn in an attempt to avoid spruce trees at the south end of the lake, but the left wingtip of the airplane brushed the snow, pulling the airplane slightly left and slowing the climb. The pilot said he knew the airplane would not clear the trees, and he landed the airplane in deep snow. The airplane rapidly decelerated and nosed down. It received structural damage to the right wing and right main landing gear.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.