# Accident 19971018031479A: Bbavia 7GCBC, Rapid City, SD, October 18, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 18, 1997, 09:15 local time
- Place: Rapid City, SD
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.0691° N, 103.2306° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0691&lon=-103.2306&mi=10
- Aircraft: N88119, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88119) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7GCBC (registry code 1220601, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7GCBC
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 420 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA018) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971018031479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DEPARTED CONROLLED FLIGHT ON FINAL CRASHED. (.4) THE PILOT SAID THAT THE WINDS AT THE DESTINATION AIRSTRIP 'APPEARED TO BE LIGHT ON THE GROUND AND OUT OF THE NORTH- NORTHWEST, JUDGING BY THE WINDSOCK. I ENTERED A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN, ROLLED OUT ON FINAL AND FLEW FINAL AT MY NORMAL APPROACH SPEED WITH FULL FLAPS.  AT APPROXIMATELY 100-120 FEET, I HIT A WINDSHEAR. THE WIND EITHER STOPPED OR ABRUPTLY BECAME A TAILWIND.  THE AIRCRAFT QUICKLY SETTLED.'  THE PILOT SAID THAT HE RAPIDLY APPLIED POWER, BUT HIT THE GROUND BEFORE IT COULD TAKE EFFECT.  A WITNESS ON THE GROUND, NEAR THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT, NOTICED THAT THE WIND WAS CHANGING DIRECTIONS, 'SOMETIMES FROM THE NORTHWEST, WEST, AND EAST.'  THE WITNESS SAID THAT ABOUT 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, 'THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO ALMOST STOP THEN DROP NEARLY VERTICAL.'  THE WITNESS SAID THAT HE HEARD THE POWER BEING ADDED BEFORE THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE GROUND.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES.  (-23) ON APPROACH TO PRIVATE TURF AIRFIELD 1 MILE NORTH OF RAPID CITY, AIRCRAFT STALLED AND CRASHED SHORT OF RUNWAY.  A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT DROP ALMOST VERTICALLY AND HEARD POWER BEING ADDED JUST BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT STRU CK THE GROUND. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE WIND SOCK WAS SHIFTING FROM CALM TO WEST TO NORTHWEST TO EAST.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA018), Oct 18, 1997: Bellanca 7GCBC (N88119), Rapid City, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: the windshear, the pilot's inability to maintain the airplane's landing approach speed, and the inadvertent stall.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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