Minchumina Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minchumina, Alaska 98757
Monday, May 25, 1998 8:40 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/1998
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 840
Event Time Zone --
Event City MINCHUMINA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98757
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MINCHUMINA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MHM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 684
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 612
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 25 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1018
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1199E
NTSB Number ANC98LA053
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bellanca
Aircraft Model 8GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier 8GCBC
Aircraft Serial Number 254-77
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 5 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 13
Airframe Hours 1436
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MICHAEL HELMBRECHT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 421 3RD STREET
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99701
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code AK28
Departure City CHENA MARINA
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 721
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MHM
Destination City MINCHUMINA
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 4200
Runway Width 90
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --