# NTSB ANC24LA034: Bellanca 7GCBC, N41685, Wellsville, UT, May 18, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 18, 2024, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC)
- Place: Wellsville, UT
- Coordinates: 41.585086, -111.90423 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5851&lon=-111.9042&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA - Salt Lake City FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194297
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194297/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194297
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA034

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent improper recovery from a bounced landing, which resulted in a nose over.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while landing at a grass-covered site, during touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly, and he inadvertently allowed the flight control stick to move forward, which lowered the nose of the airplane. During the second touchdown, the propeller struck the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing struts, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N41685](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41685-2024-12-28), registration cancelled 2024-12-28, S/N 589-73, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 589-73
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 2469.75
- Engines: Continental S4LSC-264 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Blair Gardner Montana 1 LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 27, 2023
- Departed: 42U, Morgan, UT
- Airport: runway N/A, 1,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 404 total, 275 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Day
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KLGU, 10 nm away
- METAR: KLGU 181551Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/01 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP151 T01330011

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240518006899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240518006899A), May 18, 2024: Bellanca 7GCBC, Logan, UT, Substantial damage. The airman departed under VFR from south valley regional U42 at approximately 0900 (local) on 05/18/2024. The airman was flying to a private grass airstrip…

## Other investigations on N41685 (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 OAK76FXQ40](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76FXQ40), May 3, 1976: Bellanca 7GCBC (N41685), Reno, NV, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194297. 5.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17220615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17231308&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA034%20Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf

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.

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