# NTSB CEN22LA129: Bellanca 7GCBC, N2521Z, Franklin, IN, February 21, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 21, 2022, 14:55 local (19:55 UTC)
- Place: Franklin, IN
- Coordinates: 39.426439, -86.058322 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4264&lon=-86.0583&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104675
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA129
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104675/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104675
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA129

## Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of control in the landing pattern resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.

## 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); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was performing touch and go landings when he stalled the airplane. The airplane departed controlled flight and impacted in a field near the airport and sustained substantial damage to the front of the fuselage and both wings. A post accident examination of the airplane showed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2521Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2521Z-2024-05-08), registration cancelled 2024-05-08, S/N 994-77, built 1977 (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: 994-77
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 2607
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tom Wood Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 2022, 4 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 3FK, Franklin Field
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 83; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 13, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,250 total, 105 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 16 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KBAK, 12 nm away
- METAR: KBAK 211950Z 20016KT 10SM OVC050 16/05 A2999

## 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 20220221002409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220221002409A), Feb 21, 2022: Bellanca 7GCBC, Franklin, IN, Destroyed. On FEBRUARY21, 2022, at approximately 1355 eastern standard time, a 1977 Bellanca citabria aircraft, N2521, sustained substantial damage following a collision…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104675. 1.4 MB in all.

- Memorandum for the record witness location and witness statement summary CEN22LA129 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 220 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14538697&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Witness%20Location%20and%20Witness%20Statement%20Summary%20CEN22LA129_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for the record administration information CEN22LA129 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 108 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14538577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Administration%20Information%20CEN22LA129_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14555288&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN22LA129-Rel-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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