# NTSB CEN24LA176: Bellanca 7ECA, N8618V, Watervliet, MI, May 1, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 1, 2024, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Watervliet, MI - Coordinates: 42.200667, -86.249333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2007&lon=-86.2493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration: FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194207/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194207 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA176 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control during the landing roll on a soft turf runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while landing on a turf runway in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the main landing gear encountered soft terrain upon touchdown. The airplane rapidly decelerated and the tail rose. The pilot applied full aft pressure on the control stick but was unable to regain control before the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. During the nose over the airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and right wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8618V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8618V-2026-08-14), registration cancelled 2026-08-14, S/N 1084-75, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1084-75 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 3720 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, December 27, 2023, 16 hours before - Departed: MGC, Michigan City, IN - Destination: 40C, Watervilet, MI - Airport: 40C, Watervliet Municipal Airport, runway 20, 2,600 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2023; seat: front; flight hours: 1,723 total, 412 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 32 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 16 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: KBEH, 9 nm away - METAR: KBEH 011553Z AUTO 25016G24KT 10SM CLR 22/15 A2986 RMK AO2 SLP109 T02170150 ## 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 20240501004529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240501004529A), May 1, 2024: Bellanca 7ECA, Watervliet, MI, Substantial damage. On 5/1/2024 at approximately 1140 EDT, a Bellanca model 7ECA operating under 14 CFR part 91, experienced loss of control upon landing at Watervliet municipal… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194207. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17132747&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20CEN24LA176_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17124856&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN24LA176%20Photo%20array-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. --- 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.