N88342

Substantial
Minor

BELLANCA 7GCBCS/N: 768-74

Accident Details

Date
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
NTSB Number
ANC14CA010
Location
Soldotna, AK
Event ID
20131205X60841
Coordinates
60.537223, -150.868057
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
2
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
2

Probable Cause and Findings

The operation of the airplane by the uncertificated student pilot, his failure to recognize conditions conducive to structural icing, and subsequent decision to depart in conditions conducive to structural icing, resulting in a severe icing encounter and forced landing.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N88342
Make
BELLANCA
Serial Number
768-74
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1974
Model / ICAO
7GCBCB407
Aircraft Type
Rotorcraft
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
DUNCAN DAVID W
Address
PO BOX 900
Status
Deregistered
City
STERLING
State / Zip Code
AK 99672-0900
Country
United States

Analysis

The uncertificated student pilot stated that he had been watching the weather for three days waiting for suitable flying conditions. He checked the automated weather at a nearby airport, and decided that conditions were suitable for flying. He and a passenger then took off on a cross-country flight. During the climb to cruise altitude, the uncertificated student pilot began to notice specks of ice on the windscreen. A short time later, ice suddenly began to accumulate rapidly on the airplane, obscuring the windscreen. He could see an airstrip ahead and to the left of the airplane, and started a rapid descent to set up for a landing. As he approached the airstrip, he said that he was still too fast and too high to attempt a landing, so he initiated a go-around. During the second landing attempt, he said that the airplane felt very heavy and sluggish, and as he began to slowly decrease the throttle on the landing approach, the airplane began to lose altitude very fast. He attempted a second go-around, but the engine backfired and lost power. He landed the airplane just past the end of the airstrip on a dirt road, but the right wing struck a power line guy wire, and the airplane spun to the right, striking a road sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC14CA010