Bellanca 7GCBC N36237

Summary

On 13 September 2005 at about 02:00 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N36237 was involved in an accident near Nenana, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 September 2005 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Nenana, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.6344, -148.6172

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N36237

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Pole → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05FA144

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain minimum airspeed to avoid a stall while maneuvering, which resulted in a loss of control, a stall/spin, and impact with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were an aerobatic maneuver, and a stall/spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. A witness said he saw the accident airplane flying level above the trees, when it abruptly started a steep, near vertical, climb. At the top of the climb, the witness said the airplane descended in a steep spiral and impacted the ground. The airplane impacted in a near vertical, nose low attitude. The right wing was found standing on its leading edge, with its top wrapped counter-clockwise around a small group of willows. Both blades of the two-bladed propeller had extreme bending and torsional twisting, chord-wise scratching, and areas sanded clean of paint. The engine exhaust manifold had plastic folding. The accident pilot/owner was a certified aircraft mechanic, who reportedly maintained the accident airplane. No airframe or engine logbooks were discovered for examination. No preimpact mechanical problems were discovered during the investigation. Federal Aviation Regulation Part 91.303, defines any abrupt change in an aircraft's attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration not necessary for normal flight, as aerobatic flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.