Bellanca 7GCAA accident near Glamis, CA
On November 25, 2016, a Bellanca 7GCAA (airplane) was involved in an accident near Glamis, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 25, 2016
- Place
- Glamis, CA
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCAA · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 32.994°N, 115.022°W
- NTSB ID
- 20161125X72838
Official records · WPR17FA029
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 25, 2016, about 1145 Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7GCAA airplane, N88373, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while on approach to landing at a private airstrip near Glamis, California. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The flight originated from an open desert area near the airstrip about 5 minutes before the accident. A friend of the pilot reported that the pilot had been giving 10- to 15-minute rides to people they were camping with and that he was taking off and landing from a long area of packed sand near their campsite. He further reported that the accident occurred as the pilot was conducting his sixth ride flight of the day with the intention of landing at the private airstrip to park the airplane overnight. The friend stated that during the previous ride flights, the pilot had flown over his intended landing area about 50 ft above ground level (agl) and then continued in a traffic pattern for the landing area about 50 ft agl. He added that the pilot had also flown low in the sand dune bowls in the area during the previous flights. Two witnesses located near the dirt airstrip reported that they observed the airplane touch down about halfway down the runway on a westerly heading while traveling at a high speed. The witnesses said that the airp
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to attempt a downwind landing and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering during a go-around and subsequent landing attempt, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequately controlled depression, which impaired his decision-making.
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Browse: California · 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.
