# NTSB CEN11CA485: Bellanca 8KCAB, N731JD, Greeley, CO, July 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 16, 2011, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Greeley, CO - Coordinates: 40.437221, -104.633056 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4372&lon=-104.6331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81157 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA485 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81157/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81157 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA485 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of directional control during landing, resulting in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 8KCAB, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220801), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was practicing takeoffs and landings, and during the last landing, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. The tailwheel-equipped airplane veered to the right and the pilot's efforts to correct the veer were unsuccessful, resulting in the airplane exiting the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch and sustained substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was practicing takeoff and landings,and that during the last landing, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. The tail-wheel equipped airplane then veered right and the pilot's efforts to correct the veer were unsuccessful, resulting in the airplane departing the runway surface. The airplane subsequently impacted a ditch, sustaining substantial damage to the engine firewall and fuselage. The pilot added that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N731JD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N731JD), registered now, S/N 340-77, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 8KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8kcab) (registry code 1220801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340-77 - Airframe hours: 1291 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richardson Companies Inc. - Registered owner: Richardson Companies Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 22, 2011 - Departed: KGXY, Greeley, CO - Destination: KGXY, Greeley, CO - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: KGXY, Greeley-Weld County Airport, runway 09, 5,800 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 23, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 1,286 total, 8 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KGXY ## 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 20110716015969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110716015969A), Jul 16, 2011: Bellanca 8KCAB, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. On July 16, 2011, a decathalon, N731JD, departed the runway to the left and came to rest in a drainage ditch during landing at the Greeley-weld county airport.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81157. 706 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 530 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352869&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352871&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo: N731JD (item 4, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352872&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20N731JD-Master.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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.