- Date
- April 5, 1998, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mcalester, OK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N53739Bellanca 7GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980405005529A
- Case key
- 20687
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusty crosswinds, during recovery from a bounced landing; and his failure to maintain directional control during a go-around. Related factors were: the wind conditions, and a subsequent encounter with of a fence and brush pile.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Following a bounced landing on runway 22, the airplane turned to the right. The pilot added full power for a go-around; however, the right main wheel struck the top wire of a fence paralleling the runway, the right wing caught a brush pile, and the airplane nosed to the ground. Winds were from 160 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 35 knots. Due to dry windy conditions in the area, the pilot had flown on fire patrol flights for an average of 6 hours per day for the previous 2 weeks.
Factual narrative
On April 5, 1998, at 1430 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC a tailwheel airplane, N53739, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during an aborted landing at a private airstrip near McAlester, Oklahoma. The airplane, owned by a private individual, was leased by the Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture for fire patrol under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local public use flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed the private airstrip at 1200.
During a personal interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he had flown an average of 6 hours per day for the previous 2 weeks on the fire patrol flights due to dry windy conditions prevailing throughout the area. The aircraft was modified for use of automotive fuel and he would land at the private airstrip, 6 miles northwest of McAlester, for refueling.
The winds reported by the pilot (Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report NTSB Form 6120.1/2) were from 160 degrees at 15 knots with gusts from 25 to 35 knots and the approach was made to runway 22. During the wheel landing the aircraft bounced and turned to the right. According to the pilot's statement, he added full power for a go-around; however, the right main wheel struck the top wire of the fence paralleling the runway, the right wing caught a brush pile located beyond the fence, and the airplane nosed to the ground. Structural damage occurred to the fuselage, wing spars, engine mounts, propeller, gear, and cowling.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N53739
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 864-75
- Airframe hours
- 1,912
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Operator
- Lester E. Cashmere
- Registered owner
- Cashmere & Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 2, 1998 · 80 hours before
- Departed
- 7450 · OK
- Airport
- NONE · Cashmere Ranch, runway 22, 1,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,282 total · 133 in this make and model · 5,987 as pilot in command · 146 in the last 90 days · 81 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 15 knots, gusting 35
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.