Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary ANC93LA157

BEAVER CREEK, AK, USA

Aircraft #1

N7637S

BELLANCA 7GCBC

Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE PERFORMING THE SECOND LOW PASS OVER AN AREA TO CHECK FOR A POTENTIAL FUTURE LANDING SITE, HE INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO CONTACT THE TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER.

Factual Information

On August 25, 1993, at 1900 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Bellanca 7GCBC airplane, N7637S, collided with the terrain and nosed over while making a low pass to evaluate a possible future landing area near Beaver Creek, located 56 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Fairbanks at 1805, and was destined for the Beaver Creek area. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed. Shortly after the accident, during a telephone conversation, the pilot stated the following in part: "I was planning to 'drag the area', or make several passes to see if it might be a suitable place at which to land for a future hunting trip. During the second pass the main wheels inadvertently touched down, and the airplane nosed over. The vertical stabilizer, rudder, and one wing strut were damaged."

Probable Cause and Findings

THE IMPROPER ALTITUDE FLOWN BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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