Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Minchumina, Alaska, May 25, 1998
On May 25, 1998 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N1199E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minchumina, Alaska (Minchumina airport). It was an instructional 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 maintain directional control while landing. A factor associated with this accident was the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 1998 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Minchumina, Alaska · Minchumina
- 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
- N1199E · registry record · serial 254-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student was landing at a remote, gravel airstrip. He stated that he visually inspected the airport wind sock and determined the winds were 'light and variable', favoring runway 20. He stated that the approach was normal until he went below the adjacent tree line, and the rate of descent increased. He was unable to arrest the descent prior to touchdown, and the airplane hit hard and bounced twice. He was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane turned 45 degrees from its original runway heading. He said that in an attempt to abort the landing, he added full power, and the airplane went off the right side of the runway. The left wing struck a stand of trees.
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: student
- Flight time: 61 hours in all; 61 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,436 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1997; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK28 Chena Marina AK at 10:21 am
- Destination: MHM Minchumina AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 20, 4,200 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°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.