Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Tetlin, Alaska, April 26, 2008
On April 26, 2008 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N10987, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Tetlin, Alaska (Tetlin Airport). It was an instructional 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 instructor pilot's inadequate supervision of the student, resulting in a loss of control while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2008 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tetlin, Alaska · Tetlin Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N10987 · registry record · serial 330-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated flight instructor (CFI) was providing flight instruction to a student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The CFI said that during touchdown on the gravel runway, the student pilot bounced the airplane, and as the main wheels touched down again the airplane veered to the left. The CFI said that he took control of the airplane in an attempt to realign it, but it continued to veer to the left and he applied full engine power to abort the landing. The airplane became airborne momentarily, but descended into an area on the left side of the runway and collided with terrain. According to a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector, no preaccident mechanical anomalies were revealed during his postaccident inspection.
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
What happened, in order
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,250 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 21, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 72 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,552 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 22, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6K8 Tok AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: 3T3 Tetlin AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,300 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from PAOR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N10987 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.