# NTSB CHI86FA146: Bellanca 7GCBC, N5026H, E. Grand Forks, MN, May 30, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 1986, 20:10 local (May 30, 1986, 01:10 UTC)
- Place: E. Grand Forks, MN
- Coordinates: 47.929683, -97.009834 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9297&lon=-97.0098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86FA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13258/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FA146

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - seat belt - not used, passenger
  - fluid,fuel - improper
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES RPRTD THE ACFT HAD JUST LEFT THE RESTRICTED LNDG AREA (RLA) WHEN IT ENTERED A CLIMBING MANEUVER, THEN DSCNDD &IMPACTED THE GND & BURNED. TWO WITNESSES SAID IT WENT STRAIGHT UP, THEN STRAIGHT DOWN, BEFORE IT CRASHED. ANOTHER 2 WIT-NESSES NOTED A PWR INTERRUPTION; HOWEVER, A POST ACDNT TEARDOWN OF THE ENG REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM THATWOULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF PWR. THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO FWD MOVEMENT OF THE ACFT AFTER IMPACT. THE LEFT WING WAS CANTED FWD & THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ACFT HAD YAWED LEFT (TAIL RGT) AFTER IMPACT. FIVE OPEN BEER CANS WERE FND IN THE WRECKAGE. BLOOD & URINE SAMPLES OF THE PLT TESTED POSITIVE FOR ALCOHOL (0.135% & 0.134%, RESPECTIVE). TESTS OF THE PASSENGERS' BLOOD SHOWED ALCOHOL LEVELS OF 0.074% & 0.085%. AUTO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT, ALTHO THE PLANE HAD NO STC FOR THIS TYPE OF FUEL. NEITHER OF THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS WERE BELTED IN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5026H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5026H-1989-03-21), registration cancelled 1989-03-21, S/N 105978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1059-78
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Eugene C. Thompson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 1985
- Airport: Jensens, runway 18, 1,350 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,600 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GFK, 7 nm away

## 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 19860529026309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860529026309A), May 29, 1986: Bbavia 7GCBC, East Grand Fork, MN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Vertical climb on takeoff stalled and went straight down. Pilot had been drinking. Three people in a 2 place aircraft

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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