# NTSB DEN88LA085: Bellanca 7GCAA, N8929, Greeley, CO, March 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 21, 1988, 17:15 local (Mar 22, 1988, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Greeley, CO
- Coordinates: 40.440982, -104.66925 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4410&lon=-104.6693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN88LA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17460/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN88LA085

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Tail gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,tailwheel - overload

## Analysis

THE CFI RATED PLT AND HIS CFI RATED PASSENGER WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE TAIL WHEEL CHATTERED DURING THE LAST TOUCHDOWN, AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE LEFT. THE PLT ADDED SOME RIGHT RUDDER WHICH DID NOT HELP. THE PLT ADDED RIGHT BRAKE. THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND CONTROL WAS LOST. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT, DAMAGING THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND COLLAPSING THE TAIL WHEEL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8929](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8929), registered now, S/N 255-73, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCAA
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (registry code 1220501) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 255-73
- Airframe hours: 1264
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Link Training Center
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 1987, 67 hours before
- Departed: GXY
- Airport: GXY, Greeley-Weld Co., runway 27, 7,035 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 914 total, 14 in this make and model, 740 as pilot in command, 193 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °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 19880321006799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880321006799A), Mar 21, 1988: Bbavia 7GCAA, Greeley, CO, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on landing roll. Overcorrected and ground looped the tail wheel type 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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