Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Nenana, Alaska, September 13, 2005
On September 13, 2005 at about 2:00 am local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N36237, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nenana, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2005 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Nenana, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N36237 · no longer on the register · serial 550-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 127 hours in all; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 95Z North Pole AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,700 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAFA, 30 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.