Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, May 13, 1995
On May 13, 1995 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N7695S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Chena Marina airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO VERIFY THE POSITION OF THE PARKING BRAKE KNOB PRIOR TO LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1995 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Chena Marina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N7695S · registry record · serial 225-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF THE RIGHT BRAKE WAS DRAGGING BUT HE THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY A STICKY BRAKE PUCK. HE CHECKED THE PARKING BRAKE KNOB AND IT APPEARED TO BE IN THE OFF POSITION. JUST PRIOR TO LANDING HE CHECKED THE BRAKES BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDALS. UPON LANDING THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED 100 FEET AND NOSED OVER. AFTER THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE, HE FOUND THAT THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. HE REACHED INTO THE COCKPIT AND PUSHED ON THE PARKING BRAKE KNOB WHICH WAS EXTENDED 3/4 TO 1 INCH. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEELS THEN TURNED FREELY.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,990 hours in all; 5,000 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 7,769 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 4,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 99 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.