Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Palmer, Alaska, August 11, 1983
On August 11, 1983 at about 4:30 am local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N5215X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- August 11, 1983 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5215X · registry record · serial 179
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT TO A MOUNTAIN AIRSTRIP AT 4000 FT MSL. ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE THOUGHT HIS APPROACH WAS TOO FLAT SO HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND AT LOW ALT AND WITH 60 KTS INDICATED AIRSPEED. THE ACFT WOULD NOT OUTCLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN AND THE PLT WAS FORCED TO LAND ON THE MUSKEG. DURING LANDING, THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL SEPARATEDAND THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,457 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 1,190 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 934 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 12, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.