Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Melozi Hot Spgs, Alaska, February 1, 1983
On February 1, 1983 at about 8:36 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N8639V, was destroyed in an accident near Melozi Hot Spgs, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 1983 · about 8:36 pm local time
- Place
- Melozi Hot Spgs, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N8639V · no longer on the register · serial 160-75
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT DEPTD A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WITH NO FLT PLAN AND WAS LATER REPORTED OVERDUE. ACFT WRECKAGE WAS FOUND ON SEPT. 27, 1984. DEBRIS WAS SCATTERED NEAR THE BOTTOM OF A 1000 FT BOX CANYON CLIFF. THE MAIN FUSELAGE WAS FOUND IN A LAKE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON. TANANA FSS REPORTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULANCE IN THE AREA WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. A PAX WHO FLEW INTO MELOZI WITH THE PLT THEN DEPLANED STATED THE PLT DID NOT SEEM VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE AREA. THE ELEVATION OF THE LAKE WAS 2700 FT. THE CLIFFS/PEAKS SURROUNDING THE LAKE REACHED ABOUT 3700 FT.
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: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 12AK Melozi AK
- Destination: MTF Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.