Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Killey River, Alaska, July 6, 1989
On July 6, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N88273, was substantially damaged in an accident near Killey River, 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 PILOT FAILED TO ASSURE SUFFICIENT ALT WAS OBTAINED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DOWNDRAFTS NEAR THE RIDGE LINE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Killey River, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N88273 · registry record · serial 75574
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FLYING AT AN ALT OF 50-75 FEET AGL SPOTTING BEAR WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FLT WAS TRAVELING TOWARD A RIDGE LINE AND THE PLT REPORTED A DOWNDRAFT FROM THE RIDGE CAUSED THE ACFT TO LOSE ALT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER WITH FULL PWR; HOWEVER, THE ACFT STALLED AT AN ALT OF 10 FT AGL AND DESCENDED TO IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 697 hours in all; 624 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 697 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,060 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Soldotna AK at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.