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Accidents · NTSB ANC83LA130 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Bellanca CITABRIA 7GCBC accident near Seward, Alaska, July 23, 1983

On July 23, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Bellanca CITABRIA 7GCBC, registered N50509, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seward, Alaska (Seward airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 23, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time · cases in 1983
Place
Seward, Alaska · Seward · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Bellanca CITABRIA 7GCBC CITABRIA 7
Registration
N50509 · no longer on the register
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING AT 200 FEET AGL, AT ABOUT 65 MPH IN A LEFT TURN, SPOTTING FISH FOR A FISHING VESSEL WHEN A MAP THAT WAS ON HIS LAP FELL TO THE FLOOR. WHEN HE REACHED FOR IT HIS LEFT HAND HIT THE THROTTLE, REDUCING POWER. BEFORE HE COULD RECOVER THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE WATER. THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

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; single-engine sea
  • Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 1,662 in this make and model; 360 in the last 90 days; 3,455 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,662 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1983; 6 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: LHD Anchorage AK at 3:30 pm
  • Destination: CDV Cordova AK
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; clear
  • Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC83LA130.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.