Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Lime Village, Alaska, August 31, 2024
On August 31, 2024 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1977 Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N1217E, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lime Village, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s excessive braking during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2024 · about 8:40 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Lime Village, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC, built 1977 · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N1217E · registry record · serial 255-77
- 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, while landing at a remote, rough and uneven airstrip in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he encountered several strong gusts of wind from the left, which pushed the airplane to the right. He said the right main wheel subsequently contacted an area of soft tundra-covered terrain, which resulted in a rapid deceleration. During the rapid deceleration, he inadvertently applied excessive braking action, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, lift struts and empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 247 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 213 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,326 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 2024; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 C2E (piston); 1,326 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PABV Birchwood AK at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.66 inHg
- Observation at 11:26 am from PASV, 44 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PASV 311926Z AUTO 28002KT 10SM BKN006 07/06 A2966 RMK AO2 SLP046
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 29, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1217E on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Bellanca 8 Decathlon and Scout 554 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bellanca 2,699 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 C2E 5 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Birchwood Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 823 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,144 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC24LA087.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.