Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Killey River, Alaska
Thursday, July 6, 1989 13:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO ASSURE SUFFICIENT ALT WAS OBTAINED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DOWNDRAFTS NEAR THE RIDGE LINE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/6/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone --
Event City KILLEY RIVER
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 686
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 6 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40060
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N88273
NTSB Number ANC89LA116
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BELLANCA
Aircraft Model 7GCBC
Aircraft Series Identifier 7GCBC
Aircraft Serial Number 75574
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection 51
Airframe Hours 1060
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS D DUNN
Aircraft Owner Street Address HC-2 BOX 924
Aircraft Owner City SOLDOTNA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99669
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS D. DUNN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address HC 2, BOX 924
Operator City SOLDOTNA
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99669
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City SOLDOTNA
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1250
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --