Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, August 2, 2002
On August 2, 2002, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N53828, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Beaver Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll, which precipitated an aborted landing, and subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2002
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Beaver Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N53828 · no longer on the register · serial 185-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on a remote gravel airstrip, he was unable to maintain directional control, and decided to abort the landing. Shortly after applying full power and becoming airborne, he made a left turn to avoid a cabin, and the main landing gear encountered willows, pulling the airplane further to the left. The pilot said he elected to crash the airplane between two trees instead of attempting to turn away or climb over them. He subsequently reduced power and hit the trees. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,420 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 5, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,650 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 2002; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAFA Fairbanks AK at 5:30 pm
- Destination: Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.36 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PAFA, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.