# NTSB CHI98LA018: Bellanca 7GCBC, N88119, Rapid City, SD, October 18, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 18, 1997, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Rapid City, SD - Coordinates: 44.069068, -103.230621 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0691&lon=-103.2306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10768 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10768/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA018 ## Probable cause the windshear, the pilot's inability to maintain the airplane's landing approach speed, and the inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - windshear (cause) - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot said that the winds at the destination airstrip 'appeared to be light on the ground and out of the north- northwest, judging by the windsock. I entered a normal traffic pattern, rolled out on final and flew final at my normal approach speed with full flaps. At approximately 100-120 feet, I hit a windshear. The wind either stopped or abruptly became a tailwind. The aircraft quickly settled.' The pilot said that he rapidly applied power, but hit the ground before it could take effect. A witness on the ground, near the location of the accident, noticed that the wind was changing directions, 'sometimes from the northwest, west, and east.' The witness said that about 100 feet above the ground, 'the airplane appeared to almost stop then drop nearly vertical.' The witness said that he heard the power being added before the airplane struck the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On October 18, 1997, at 0915 mountain daylight time (mdt), a Bellanca 7GCBC, N88119, operated by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when on approach, the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted into a field 100 yards from the approach end of a private airstrip. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot and the passenger on board received minor injuries. The local flight originated at a private airstrip one mile north of Rapid City, South Dakota. In his written statement, the pilot said that the winds at the destination airstrip "appeared to be light on the ground and out of the north-northwest, judging by the windsock. I entered a normal traffic pattern, rolled out on final and flew final at my normal approach speed with full flaps. At approximately 100-120 feet, I hit a windshear. The wind either stopped or abruptly became a tailwind. The aircraft quickly settled." The pilot said that he rapidly applied power, but hit the ground before it could take effect. A witness on the ground, near the location of the accident, noticed that the wind was changing directions, "sometimes from the northwest, west, and east." The witness watched the airplane approach and fly over his location. The witness said that about 100 feet above the ground, "the airplane appeared to almost stop, then drop nearly vertical." The witness said that he heard the power being added before the airplane struck the ground. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the airplane at the accident site found the airplane resting upright in a field. The left wing and internal structure [spars] were bent upward. The airplane's empennage was twisted right. The main landing gear were bent upward and broken off. The propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N88119](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88119), registered now, S/N 606-74, built 1974 (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: 606-74 - Airframe hours: 1562 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Darrell & Sharon Sauder - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 1997, 46 hours before - Airport: Private, runway 34, 1,500 × 35 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 11,000 total, 420 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RAP, 1 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 19971018031479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971018031479A), Oct 18, 1997: Bbavia 7GCBC, Rapid City, SD, Substantial damage. Departed conrolled flight on final crashed. (.4) the pilot said that the winds at the destination airstrip 'appeared to be light on the ground and out of the… 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.