| Crash location | 30.531945°N, 87.385277°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Pensacola, FL
30.421309°N, 87.216915°W 12.6 miles away |
| Tail number | N53954 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 25 Apr 2005 |
| Aircraft type | Bellanca 8GCBC |
| Additional details: | None |
On April 25, 2005, about 1145 central daylight time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered to and operated by Coastal Soaring Association, Inc., nosed over during the landing roll at Coastal Airport, Pensacola, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 glider-tow flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 1130, from Coastal Airport.
According to the NTSB "Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report" form, the aircraft was fast on landing which resulted in a long landing. The pilot applied excessive braking as the end of the runway was approaching causing the aircraft to nose over.
A pilot-rated witness on the airport reported the aircraft appeared to make a "...high, overshooting turn to final." The airplane was then observed making "S" turns, followed by an "... aggressive side-slip maneuver to lose excess altitude." The aircraft leveled out and "floated" past my position which was located at the midfield point. The airplane touchdown, bounced, and traveled another 200 to 300 feet before touching down again in a two-point landing. The aircraft rolled approximately 100 feet before the tail began to rise, and the propeller contacted the ground.
The pilot misjudged his altitude and distance resulting in an overrun. Also causal was the pilot's failure to execute a go-around.