# NTSB ERA26LA005: Bellanca 7GCBC, N289PS, Reedville, VA, October 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 4, 2025, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Reedville, VA - Coordinates: 37.82984, -76.274742 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8298&lon=-76.2747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 201810 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201810/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201810 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA005 ## Probable cause The pilot’s sudden incapacitation by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: other loss of consciousness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Medical event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/850/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot recalled advancing the throttle for takeoff, but lost consciousness and could not recall anything that occurred after that point until a bystander helped him from the wreckage of the airplane. The airplane had impacted trees off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. After the accident, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident review of the pilot’s FAA medical certification history and his postaccident medical care records confirmed that the pilot had likely been incapacitated by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease. At the time of the accident, the pilot did not hold current FAA medical certification. Although he had completed some requirements for BasicMed, his known medical history, which included multiple cardiovascular conditions, disqualified him from legally operating under BasicMed. ## Factual narrative On October 4, 2025, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N289PS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Reedville, Virginia. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot recalled advancing the throttle for takeoff and the airplane traveling down the runway, but could not recall anything that occurred after that point until a bystander helped him from the wreckage of the airplane. The airplane had impacted trees off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The day after the accident, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Several days later, the pilot reported that he had fainted during the takeoff attempt and that he was in the hospital for testing to try to determine why he may have lost consciousness. An NTSB medical officer reviewed the pilot’s FAA medical certification history and his postaccident medical care records. According to those records, 3 days after the accident, the pilot presented for medical care and was hospitalized for evaluation of symptoms, including a sudden loss of consciousness episode that he reported had occurred without warning a few seconds into the accident flight. Hospital evaluation revealed worsened heart disease requiring intervention. Medical specialists attributed the pilot’s reported loss of consciousness during the accident flight to an episode of abnormal heartbeat related to his underlying heart disease. At the time of the accident, the 71-year-old pilot did not hold a current FAA medical certification. Although he had completed some requirements for BasicMed, his known medical history included multiple cardiovascular conditions. These conditions would have required at least one FAA Special Issuance of medical certification before the pilot legally could have operated under BasicMed provisions. According to correspondence between NTSB and FAA staff, the pilot had no Special Issuance history. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N289PS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N289PS), registered now, S/N 370-72, built 1972 (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: 370-72 - Year built: 1972 - Airframe hours: 3722 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2025, 6 hours before - Airport: VA99, Federhart-Ophelia, runway 1, 2,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,845 total, 1,422 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 3026.00 inHg - Observed at: NUI, 27 nm away ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 13, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201810. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19465769&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19497457&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 543 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19497955&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photos-Rel.pdf - Medical specialist's factual report (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19878807&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA005_MedicalFactualReport-Rel.pdf 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.