# Accident 20240908022379A: Bellanca 7GCAA, Rifle, CO, September 8, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 8, 2024, 15:33 local time
- Place: Rifle, CO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.5233° N, 107.8418° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5233&lon=-107.8418&mi=10
- Aircraft: N36008, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36008) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7GCAA (registry code 1220501, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCAA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,350 total, 5 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA344) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240908022379A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT WAS RE-POSITIONING THE AIRCRAFT FROM PACERVILLE, CA TO RIFLE, CO. THE FIRST TWO STOPS OF THE FLIGHT WERE NOT EVENTFUL. THE LAST STOP WAS TO REFUEL AT RICHFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WITH 27.71 GALLONS OF AVIATION GASOLINE FOR A PLANNED 2.5 HOUR FLIGHT TO RIFLE, CO. THE PILOT STATED THE TANKS WERE COMPLETELY FULL. THE PILOT DEPARTED RICHFIELD MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TOWARD RIFLE GARFIELD COUNTY AIRPORT. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT REACHED THE UTAH/COLORADO BORDER THE PILOT STATED HE EXPERIENCED CONSTANT LIGHT TURBULANCE AND THE OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULANCE. ABOUT 5 NAUTICAL MILES FROM ACCIDENT SITE, THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER SO HE CHECKED THE CARBERATOR HEAT, MIXTURE SETTING, AND CONFIRMED FUEL SELECTOR VAVLE WAS ON. THE PILOT STATED THAT DUE TO THE TURBULENT AIR, THE FUEL GUAGES WERE BOUNCING SO MUCH THAT HE COULD NOT READ THE FUEL LEVEL ACCURATELY. THE AIRCRAFT HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE FLYING OVER INTERSTATE 70 SO THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 70 TO PERFORM AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING ON A NORTH TO SOUTH DIRT ROAD. DURING HIS FINAL APPROACH TURN THE PILOT SAW POWERLINES AND PITCHED THE AIRCRAFT UP TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE POWERLINES. THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED DOWN AND STALLED ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL AND THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND WITH A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND FLIPPED OVER LONGITUDINALLY. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO EGRESS THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF BYSTANDERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND INSTRUCTED THE BYSTANDERS TO TURN OFF THE AIRCRAFT’S ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

## 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 CEN24LA344](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA344), Sep 8, 2024: Bellanca 7GCAA (N36008), Rifle, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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