# NTSB DEN79FTE86: Bellanca 8GCBC, N7871S, Wellington, CO, September 26, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 26, 1979
- Place: Wellington, CO · WELLINGTON, CO
- Location: 40.6977° N, 105.0063° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wellington, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6977&lon=-105.0063&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 133113
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN79FTE86
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79FTE86

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3314  79/9/26    WELLINGTON,CO       BELLANCA 8GCBC      CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 61, 6352
        TIME - 1300                    N7871S              PX-  0  0  0  TOWING GLIDERS            TOTAL HOURS, 328 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WAVERLY WEST
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WELLINGTON,CO               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          BROKEN                                                    8000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     HEAD WIND 338-022 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       40
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- WIND GUSTS TO 45KTS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7871S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7871S-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 229-76, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 8GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-8gcbc) (registry code 1220803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Waverly West

## 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 19790926024159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790926024159A), Sep 26, 1979: Blanca 8GCBC, Wellington, CO, Substantial damage. Aircraft was blown over by gusty wind on landings.

## Other investigations on N7871S (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 BFO90LA005](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA005), Oct 29, 1989: Bellanca 8GCBC (N7871S), Churchville, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT NOT MAINTAINING ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE WIND SOCK DURING AN ABORTED LANDING. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER 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.

---
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.
