# NTSB DEN83LA169: Bellanca 7GCBC, N88399, Cody, WY, July 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 19, 1983, 21:15 local (Jul 20, 1983, 03:15 UTC)
- Place: Cody, WY
- Coordinates: 44.510314, -109.049812 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5103&lon=-109.0498&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16119
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83LA169
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16119/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA169

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear - separation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED DURING LANDING AND DAMAGED THE LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT HAD 80 HOURS IN TAILWHEEL ACFT BUT ONLY 1.6IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL. THE LANDING WAS ON RWY 22 AND THE WIND WAS FROM 130 DEGREES AT 10 TO 12 KTS. THE PLT SLIPPED THE ACFT ON FINAL APPROACH AND MADE A FULL STALL FLARE AND TOUCHDOWN. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE WIND PICKED UP THE LEFT WING AND THE ACFT TURNED LEFT. DURING THE TURN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. THE PLT SAID HE WAS NOTFAMILIAR WITH THE BRAKES AND MAY HAVE INADVERTANTLY APPLIED ONE OF THE BRAKES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88399](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88399-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 777-75, 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: 777-75
- Airframe hours: 676
- Engines: LYCOMING 0320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Mccue Flying Service
- Registered owner: Christensen Enterprises, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 28, 1983, 53 hours before
- Airport: COD, Faust Regional, runway 22, 7,100 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 453 total, 2 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 130° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F

## 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 19830719037169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830719037169A), Jul 19, 1983: Bbavia 7GCBC, Cody, WY, Substantial damage. Pilot lost directional control of aircraft during landing causing ground loop.

## Other investigations on N88399 (2)

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 CEN10LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA275), May 29, 2010: Bellanca 7GCBC (N88399), Watertown, SD, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of airplane control while conducting aerobatic, low-altitude maneuvers. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairmant due to alcohol.
- [NTSB DEN84LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA195), Jun 26, 1984: Bellanca 7GCBC (N88399), Dillon, MT, 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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