- Date
- September 23, 1993, 16:35 local (20:35 UTC)
- Place
- Wauseon, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N53730Bellanca 7GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930923036159A
- Case key
- 8827
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to compensate for the crosswind which resulted in loss of directional control during the flare/touchdown. A factor in the accident was the crosswind component.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the flare/touchdown on runway 36, he encountered a left crosswind. He stated that the left wing came up, and he corrected using the aileron, but the airplane turned 35 degrees to the right and exited into a bean field where it nosed over. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On Thursday, September 23, 1993, at 1635 eastern daylight time, N53730, a Bellanca 7GCBC, owned by Ned L Bechtel of Delta, Ohio, and piloted by David S Bechtel of Ohio, nosed over during landing at Fulton County Airport, Wauseon, Ohio. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
The pilot stated that he encountered a left crosswind when he was landing on runway 36. He said the airplane touched down, and during rollout, the left wing came up. The pilot stated that he corrected using the aileron, but the airplane turned 35 degrees to the right of the centerline and exited onto a grassy area where it nosed over. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunctions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53730
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 861-75
- Airframe hours
- 1,823
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ned L. Bechtel
- Registered owner
- Ned L. Bechtel
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 22, 1993 · 26 hours before
- Airport
- USE · Fulton County, runway 36, 2,005 × 75 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 308 total · 237 in this make and model · 261 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TOL, 15 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.