Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Juntura, OR
On May 14, 2015, a Bellanca 7GCBC (airplane) was involved in an accident near Juntura, OR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 14, 2015
- Place
- Juntura, OR
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 43.760°N, 118.088°W
- NTSB ID
- 20150514X61132
Official records · WPR15FA161
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 14, 2015, at 1032 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N5042P, impacted wires while maneuvering near Juntura, Oregon. The private pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial observation flight to drive cattle, which was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. No flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed a private airport in Juntura. A witness reported that after getting up that morning, she had gone to make sure the property gate was closed, as she knew there was a cattle drive that morning. Upon returning to the house, she was cleaning the kitchen, when she heard the accident airplane flying overhead. She estimated that the airplane flew over three to four times. On the last pass, the accident pass, she had moved to the sliding glass door in the kitchen, and watched as the airplane flew straight and level into the wires. The airplane nosed over, impacted the ground, and came to rest inverted about 200 yards from her house. She described the engine sound before the accident as "normal." According to responding law enforcement personnel, downed power lines were entwined in the wreckage. The responding sergeant reported a strong fuel smell inside the cockpit. He also reported that the pilot had initially survived the accident. Both witnesses and local law enforcement stated that the pilot was a local area farmer/resident, that would routinely use his airplane for cattle drives, and was familiar with the area.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to see and avoid power lines while intentionally maneuvering at low altitude for the aerial observation flight.
More accidents in OR
- Cessna T207A, Aug 21, 1986
- Piper PA-28-180, Sep 1, 1984
- Piper PA-28RT-201, Mar 12, 1984
- Piper PA 46-310P, Apr 7, 2017
- Cessna 172, Jun 23, 2012
Browse: Oregon · Bellanca aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
