Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Sitka, Alaska, March 31, 1989
On March 31, 1989 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N9182L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sitka, Alaska (Sitka Seaplane Base airport). 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'S CONTINUING THE TAKEOFF DESPITE THE LARGE BOAT WAKE AND GUSTING WIND. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LOW FLIGHT TIME IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1989 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sitka, Alaska · Sitka Seaplane Base · map
- 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
- N9182L · no longer on the register · serial 322-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT CONTINUED ON-THE-STEP TAXI FOR TAKEOFF ON CHOPPY WATER THRU A LARGE BOAT WAKE. THE WAKE, COMBINED WITH A GUST OF WIND, LIFTED THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN BECAME AIRBORNE ABOUT 10 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE WATER.
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: 189 hours in all; 19 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 964 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1989; 942 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK29 Sitka AK at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:15 pm from SIT
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.