# Accident 20230831022729A: Bellanca 7ECA, Midlothian, TX, August 31, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2023, 15:40 local time
- Place: Midlothian, TX
- Airport: Mid-Way
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4583° N, 96.9125° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4583&lon=-96.9125&mi=10
- Aircraft: N11648, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11648-2024-07-06) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7ECA (registry code 1220460, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 5 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA392) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230831022729A

## Narrative

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

ON 08/31/2023 THE PILOT OPERATING AIRCRAFT STATED HE DEPARTED GPM-GRAND PRAIRIE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TO JWY-MIDLOTHIAN/MIDWAY AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER PART 91 OPERATING RULES AND ATIS WEATHER INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE PIC AND A PASSENGER WERE SOLE OCCUPANTS OF THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED WHILE IN THE PATTERN AT JWY, HE PLANNED A TWO-WHEEL LANDING. ON FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 18, THE PILOT STATED HE OBSERVED JWY'S WINDSOCK ESTIMATED A 10-KNOT CROSSWIND AND HIS AIRCRAFT AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATE 70 KNOTS. DURING LANDING THE TAIL-WHEEL TOUCH DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT NOSE DRIFTED, THE PIC STATED HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER, RIGHT AILERON ATTEMPTING TO BLEED OFF KINETIC ENERGY, WHILE NOT APPLYING ENGINE POWER. THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A NOSE HEADING CHANGE WHEN THE TAIL SWIVELED.  THE AIRCRAFTS RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR HIT AND COLLAPSED, THEN RIGHT WING TOUCHES THE GROUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET OFF CENTER OF RUNWAY 18. THE PILOT WAS OBSERVED WITH MINOR INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNINJURED. FAA ARRIVED ON SCENE AT JWY APPROXIMATE TIME WAS 1842. AIRCRAFT N11648 POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION HAD A CURRENT STANDARD AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE ON BOARD, HOWEVER NO AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION BUT THE PIC PRODUCE AN AIRCRAFT BILL OF SALE LISTING THE PASSENGER AS THE PURCHASER DATED 08/31/2023. THE AIRCRAFT SHOWED EVIDENCE OF FUEL, OIL, AND ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ENGINE AND NO EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE EXERCISED AND EXHIBITED CONTINUITY.

## 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 CEN23LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA392), Aug 31, 2023: Bellanca 7ECA (N11648), Midlothian, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in the right main landing gear collapse.

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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