# NTSB FTW03LA149: Bellanca 7GCBC, N711JJ, Houston, TX, May 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2003, 11:25 local (16:25 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.65611, -95.476669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6561&lon=-95.4767&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56994 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56994/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA149 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's poor decision to initiate a simulated emergency without having a suitable area for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - altitude - low - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis During takeoff initial climb, the flight instructor reduced the power to "simulate a partial power emergency." The student pilot hesitated long enough for the flight instructor to request full power. When power was increased, "the engine started coughing." The flight instructor "assumed a loss of power" and aborted the takeoff. Subsequently, the airplane struck a ditch at departure end of the runway coming to rest upright. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2003, approximately 1125 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC single-engine tailwheel-equipped airplane, N711JJ, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff following a partial loss of engine power from the Houston-Southwest Airport, near Houston, Texas. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) sustained minor injuries and the student pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Texas Taildraggers of Houston, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. Information from the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) and an FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the student pilot was receiving instruction on short field takeoffs and landings along with emergency procedures. After lift off from runway 9, with approximately 2,000 feet of runway remaining, the 1,450-hour CFI reduced the power to "simulate a partial power emergency." The student pilot "hesitated long enough for the CFI to request full power and continue normal flight." When power was increased, "the engine started coughing." The CFI "assumed a loss of engine power and elected to abort the takeoff." Subsequently, the airplane struck a ditch at departure end of the runway coming to rest upright. The FAA inspector reported that the left wing was bent up approximately 70 degrees outboard of the wing strut attaching point, and the left main landing gear was separated. Engine and control continuity was established. The engine was examined by an FAA inspector and was found to be free of anomalies. Sugar Land Regional Airport (SGR), located 12 miles northwest of the accident site was the nearest weather reporting station. At 1100, SGR was reporting wind from 180 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 18 knots, and visibility 8 statute miles. The temperature was 28 degrees Celsius and the dew point was 23 degrees Celsius. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N711JJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N711JJ), registered now, S/N 1139-79, built 1979 (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: 1139-79 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Texas Taildraggers, doing business as Texas Taildraggers - Registered owner: Jerry Parker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AXH, Houston, TX - Airport: AXH, Houston-Southwest, runway 9, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 40; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 26, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,450 total, 640 in this make and model, 1,385 as pilot in command, 258 in the last 90 days, 108 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 1 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: SGR, 12 nm away ## 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 20030510013399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030510013399A), May 10, 2003: Bbavia 7GCBC, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On 5-10-03 a student pilot was receiving dual instruction on take offs and landings to runway 9 at Houston Southwest airport (axh). The winds were… 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.