# Accident 20010902023279A: Bbavia 7GCAA, Bridgeport, CA, September 2, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 2, 2001, 09:13 local time
- Place: Bridgeport, CA
- Airport: Bryant Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2691° N, 119.3293° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2691&lon=-119.3293&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5042D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5042D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7GCAA (registry code 1220501, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7GCAA
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2D
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 107 total, 17 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX01LA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA301) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010902023279A

## Narrative

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

(-23) WHILE LANDING AT BRYANT FIELD, BRIDGEPORT, CA, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE TAIL CAME UP AND STARTED TO PORPOISE. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED OFF THE SIDE OF RUNWAY 16 AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2001, AT 0913 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELLANCA 7GCAA, N5042D, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A LANDING GROUND LOOP AT BRYANT FIELD, BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY SIERRA FLYERS, INC. UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND DEPARTED FROM MINDEN, NEVADA, AT AN UNKNOWN TIME. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD A MONO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY THAT THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED TWICE DURING LANDING, THEN VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY, SKIDDED SIDEWAYS, AND GROUND LOOPED.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      (.4) ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2001, AT 0913 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A BELLANCA 7GCAA, N5042D, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING A LANDING GROUND LOOP AT BRYANT FIELD, BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY SIERRA FLYERS, INC., UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AND DEPARTED FROM MINDEN, NEVADA, AT 0820. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON RUNWAY 16 (4,329 FEET LONG X 60 FEET WIDE). THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED VIOLENTLY AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT. HE APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER AND SOME POWER; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE EAST EDGE OF THE RUNWAY AND GROUND LOOPED WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR ENTERED DENSE BRUSH. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WAS TORN OFF AND THE RIGHT-HAND WING CONTACTED THE GROUND DURING THE ENSUING GROUND LOOP. IN HIS REPORT TO THE SAFETY BOARD, IN THE SECTION "MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION FAILURE," THE PILOT CHECKED "NO." HE ALSO REPORTED THE WIND WAS CALM.

## 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 LAX01LA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA301), Sep 2, 2001: Bellanca 7GCAA (N5042D), Bridgeport, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the tail wheel equipped aircraft during landing roll which resulted in a ground loop.

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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