# NTSB CHI01LA306: Bellanca 7GCBC, N4215Y, Pierre, SD, September 2, 2001

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 2, 2001, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Pierre, SD
- Coordinates: 44.36935, -100.319732 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3693&lon=-100.3197&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA-Rapid City, SD-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 53448
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA306
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53448/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA306

## Probable cause

The pilot not maintaining directional control of the airplane during landing.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing

## Analysis

The airplane was damaged when it ground looped while landing.  In his written statement, the pilot said that while performing a practice short field landing, a gust of wind, "...picked aircraft from runway - placing it about a 30 [degree] angle to [the] direction of travel - with addition of power and control inputs, I was not able to correct before returning to runway. Resultant ground loop damaged landing gear and wing...."  The weather reporting station located at the accident airport recorded the wind at 1153 as variable direction at 4 knots.  No gusts were listed on the 1153 report.

## Factual narrative

On September 2, 2001, about 1215 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N4215Y, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a ground loop during landing on runway 13 (6,891 feet by 150 feet, asphalt) at the Pierre Regional Airport, Pierre, South Dakota.  The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was not on a flight plan.  The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured.  The local flight originated at 1115.

In his written statement, the pilot said that while performing a practice short field landing, a gust of wind, "...picked aircraft from runway - placing it about a 30 [degree] angle to [the] direction of travel - with addition of power and control inputs, I was not able to correct before returning to runway. Resultant ground loop damaged landing gear and wing...."

The weather reporting station located at the accident airport recorded the wind at 1153 as variable direction at 4 knots.  No gusts were listed on the 1153 report.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4215Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4215Y), registered now, S/N 968-77, 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: 968-77
- Airframe hours: 1219
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth L. McGirr
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 17, 2000, 20 hours before
- Departed: PIR, Pierre, SD
- Airport: PIR, Pierre Regional, runway 13, 6,891 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 18, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 425 total, 6 in this make and model, 363 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observed at: PIR

## 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 20010902023919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010902023919A), Sep 2, 2001: Bbavia 7GCBC, Pierre, SD, No damage. (-23) The pilot lost control of the aircraft on landing and the airplane ground looped. The left wing struck the ground and caused wing spar damage. The pilot…

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.