# NTSB CEN26LA019: Bellanca 7GCBC, N53853, Bonilla, SD, October 10, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 10, 2025, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place: Bonilla, SD
- Coordinates: 44.56244, -98.46708
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5624&lon=-98.4671&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Rapid City FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201859
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201859/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201859
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA019

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate flight planning and his failure to maintain aircraft control during the precautionary off-airport landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md)
- [Light condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036000/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 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)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting a personal flight when he realized that he would not be able to return to his private airstrip before sunset. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing in a harvested soybean field. The pilot stated that the selected field was hillier than it appeared from altitude, and the airplane bounced upon touchdown, the propeller struck the ground, and during the sudden deceleration the airplane nosed over in the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. The pilot did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53853](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53853), registered now, S/N 908-76, built 1976 (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: 908-76
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 2507
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 2025
- Departed: PVT, Tulare, SD
- Destination: PVT, Tulare, SD
- Airport: NA, Na
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 28, 2020; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 352.8 total, 145.6 in this make and model, 352.8 as pilot in command, 9.1 in the last 90 days, 4.9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Turbulence: Severe
- Observed at: HON, 15 nm away
- METAR: METAR KHON 102255Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/02 A3019 RMK AO2 SLP227 T02060022=

## 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 20251010014609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251010014609A), Oct 10, 2025: Bellanca 7GCBC, Bonilla, SD, Substantial damage. Took off on pleasure flight and then into the flight realized darkness was coming faster than I would be able to get back to home field. Decided to land in a…

## Other investigations on N53853 (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN92LA051](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92LA051), May 12, 1992: Bellanca 7GCBC (N53853), Longmont, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL BY THE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION. A FACTOR WAS: INADEQUATE SUPERVISION BY THE CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201859. 5.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19752530&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19752346&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Investigation%20Photographs%20(CEN26LA019)-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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