# NTSB CEN26LA117: Bellanca 8GCBC, N5071K, De Smet, SD, February 13, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 13, 2026, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: De Smet, SD · Airplane stopped 20 yards from centerline in ditch. - Coordinates: 44.43227, -97.558468 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4323&lon=-97.5585&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 April 30, 2026 - 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): 202444 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202444/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202444 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [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 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 8GCBC, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220803), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while landing the tailwheel equipped airplane, the tailwheel began shaking, and he lost directional control. The airplane veered off the runway and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that he should have had more back pressure on the elevator controls to prevent the tailwheel from shaking. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5071K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5071K), registered now, S/N 348-80 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 348-80 - Year built: 1980 - Airframe hours: 2346.49 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 C1E 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sky View LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 2025, 10.1 hours before - Departed: SD83, Private Strip, SD - Destination: 6E5, De Smet, SD - Airport: 6E5, Wilder, runway 34, 3,400 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review February 10, 2026; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 647.9 total, 184.4 in this make and model, 647.9 as pilot in command, 2.1 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KHON, 29 nm away - METAR: METAR KHON 132155Z AUTO 16003KT 10SM CLR 15/M07 A2995 RMK AO2 SLP151 T01501067 ## 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 20260213001209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260213001209A), Feb 13, 2026: Bellanca 8GCBC, De Smet, SD, Substantial damage. On 13 feb 2026 at 1600 pm a Bellanca 8GCBC [privacy data omitted]/operated aircraft veered off the right side of the runway during landing rollout coming to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202444. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20030529&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA117%20pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� request for info - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20109470&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA117%20MOR%20on%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 6 pages, 772 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20113803&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA117%20NTSB%20photo%20list-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.