# NTSB CEN12LA424: Bellanca 7GCAA, N8733V, Bedford, IN, July 8, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2012, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Bedford, IN - Coordinates: 38.837223, -86.440551 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8372&lon=-86.4406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 84235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA424 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84235/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84235 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA424 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s self-induced pressure to return home. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed on a 2-hour cross-country flight with the airplane's fuel tanks full. While at his destination airport, the pilot, who was a physician, received word that a patient was in critical condition and that he needed to return as soon as possible. The pilot stated that the fuel gauges indicated over half full; he departed on the return flight without refueling the airplane. During the return flight, the pilot had to divert around weather and noticed that the fuel gauges were registering considerably less than previously noted. He altered course to a nearby airport. Shortly thereafter, the engine sputtered and lost power due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot made a forced landing in a rough field, and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 012, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, N8733V, impacted terrain one mile short of runway 06 at the Virgil I. Grissom Municipal Airport (KBFR), Bedford, Indiana. The pilot received minor injuries and his passenger was seriously injuried. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot of Salem, Indiana, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The local flight originated from Logan County Airport (KAAA), Lincoln, Indiana, about 1139. According the pilot's accident report, the fuel tanks were full (21 gallons when he departed Salem Municipal Airport (KI83), Salem, Indiana, at 0900. He arrived at KAAA about 1110. There was no attendant at the airport and the airplane was not refueled. The pilot, a physician, received a telephone call from his hospital regarding one of his patients who was in critical condition, and he needed to return to Salem as soon as possible. During the preflight, the fuel gauges indicated over half-full tanks, but the pilot said he did not dip-stick the tanks. The pilot flight planned a fuel consumption rate of 8.5 gallons per hour. Because of rain showers in the Lincoln area, the pilot departed on a direct flight to Salem. When the airplane was 19 miles south of Bloomington, Indiana, or 17 miles from KBFR, the pilot noticed the fuel gauges were registering considerably less than previously noted. The pilot steered the airplane towards KBFR and when it was about 2 miles west of the airport, the engine sputtered and lost power shortly thereafter. The pilot made a forced landing on rough terrain and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said he miscalculated the fuel consumption rate; he thought he would have 2.5 gallons remaining when he landed at KI83. He also said he miscalculated the winds aloft and the effects of having to divert around weather. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8733V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8733V), registered now, S/N 316-75 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCAA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (registry code 1220501) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 316-75 - Airframe hours: 1791 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jeffrey G. Morgan - Registered owner: Jeffrey G. Morgan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2012, 9 hours before - Departed: KAAA, Lincoln, IN - Destination: KBFR, Bedford, IN - Airport: KBFR, Virgil I. Grissom Municipal, runway 06, 3,089 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 14, 2012; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,120 total, 656 in this make and model, 1,057 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 97 °F ## 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 20120708015979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120708015979A), Jul 8, 2012: Bellanca 7GCAA, Bedford, IN, Substantial damage. On July 8, 2012 at 1303 EST, aircraft N8733V (a Bellanca model 7GCAA serial number 316-75 [privacy data omitted]) on a personal flight to salem municipal… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 14, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84235. 37.8 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374474&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Google Earth view of the accident site (item 3, .PDF, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Google%20Earth%20view%20of%20the%20accident%20site-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - View to the north. Engine has separated from the airframe, exposing cockpit. (item 4, .PDF, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374747&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20to%20the%20north.%20Engine%20has%20separated%20from%20the%20airframe,%20exposing%20cockpit.-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - View to the south and the tail of the airplane. (item 5, .PDF, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20to%20the%20south%20and%20the%20tail%20of%20the%20airplane.-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - View to the east. Note right wing and cockpit damage. (item 6, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20View%20to%20the%20east.%20Note%20right%20wing%20and%20cockpit%20damage.-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - View to the west and the left wing damage. (item 7, .PDF, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374750&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20View%20to%20the%20west%20and%20the%20left%20wing%20damage.-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Reported approach direction from the southwest. (item 8, .PDF, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374751&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Reported%20approach%20direction%20from%20the%20southwest.-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Separated engine and relatively undamaged propeller. (item 9, .PDF, 6.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Separated%20engine%20and%20relatively%20undamaged%20propeller.-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.