Wasilla, AK, USA
N57391
Bellanca 7GCBC
The uncertificated pilot told a law enforcement officer during a telephone conversation that he was flying the accident airplane on a cross-country trip when he noted the fuel level was low. He elected to make a precautionary landing to refuel from a 5-gallon can of gasoline he had aboard. About 0330, in dusk conditions, he saw what he believed was an airstrip, and made an approach to land. During the approach, the airplane collided with a power line that was about 18 feet above the ground. The owner of the private airstrip told the NTSB investigator that the runway was still under construction, and that trees had recently been cut down on the approach end of the runway. He said when the trees were cut down, a power line was exposed that had been shrouded by the trees. A search of FAA records indicated that the pilot did not have a pilot's license or medical certificate.
On June 22, 2002, about 0330 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Bellanca 7GCBC airplane, N57391, sustained substantial damage when it collided with power lines while on final approach to a private airstrip, located about 9 miles northwest of Wasilla, Alaska. The solo, uncertificated pilot, reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed Fairbanks, Alaska, at an unknown time, and was en route to Anchorage, Alaska. Dusk visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity of the accident site. No flight plan was filed. The NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) spoke with an Alaska State Trooper sergeant on June 24; the trooper sergeant related he had a telephone conversation with the pilot on June 23. According to the trooper sergeant, the pilot said he was en route to Anchorage from Fairbanks, and was concerned that his fuel supply was low. The pilot decided to land at an unfamiliar airstrip and refuel the airplane from a gas can he had aboard. During the approach to land, the airplane struck unseen power lines, and collided with terrain. The trooper sergeant said other state troopers had responded to the scene, and discovered a power line wrapped around the nose and propeller of the airplane. The NTSB IIC contacted the owner of the private airstrip on June 25. The owner said the airstrip was in the process of being constructed and lengthened, and that he had cut down numerous trees that were in the approach path to the runway. He said that after he had cut the trees down, there was an exposed power line about 18 feet above the ground. The power line had previously been shrouded by trees, and was unmarked. The airstrip owner said it was this power line that the airplane struck. A search of FAA records indicated that the pilot did not have a pilot's license or medical certificate. Attempts to contact the pilot by the NTSB IIC have been unsuccessful. He did not return an NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report form.
The unqualified pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site which resulted in an in-flight collision with a power line. Factors associated with the accident are the unqualified pilot's failure to see and avoid a power line, an unmarked power line, and dusk light conditions.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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