Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Twin Hills, Alaska, May 16, 1983
On May 16, 1983 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N5042Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Twin Hills, Alaska. 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 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
- May 16, 1983 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Twin Hills, Alaska · 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
- N5042Q · registry record · serial 300-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING TAKEOFF WHEN THE LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT SAND. THE WEATHER WAS VMC BUT THE WIND WAS GUSTING UP TO 40 MPH. THE PILOT DID NOT CLAIM ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WIND OR THE ACFT BUT HE DID HAVE A STRONG CROSSWIND.THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS A SANDY RUTTED BEACH ABOUT 47 NM SW OF DILLINGHAM AK.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,041 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 1983; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DLG Dillingham AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.