# NTSB DEN78FTE23: Bellanca 7GCBC, N53966, Mcclave, CO, January 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: January 18, 1978
- Place: Mcclave, CO · MCCLAVE, CO
- Location: 38.1315° N, 102.8504° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of McClave, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1315&lon=-102.8504&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 143701
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN78FTE23
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN78FTE23

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0135  78/1/18    MCCLAVE,CO          BELLANCA 7GCBC      CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 650
        TIME - 1430                    N53966              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 45 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAMAR,C0                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: FENCE,FENCEPOSTS                          IN FLIGHT: LOW PASS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - OPERATED CARELESSLY
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - UNWARRANTED LOW FLYING
        REMARKS- CRASHED IN CATTLE FEED LOT FIVE COWS KILLED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N53966](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N53966), registered now, S/N 912-76, 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19780118000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780118000529A), Jan 18, 1978: Blanca 7KCA/, Mcclave,Co, CO, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Crashed in cattle feed lot five cows killed.

## Other investigations on N53966 (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 DEN76DTC45](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76DTC45), Aug 19, 1976: Bellanca 7GCBC (N53966), Saratoga, WY, substantial damage

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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