# NTSB GAA15CA081: Citabria 7GCBC, N50595, Winnsboro, SC, May 20, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 20, 2015, 09:38 local (13:38 UTC) - Place: Winnsboro, SC - Coordinates: 34.369674, -81.080299 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3697&lon=-81.0803&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91208 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91208/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91208 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's execution of a steep left turn at low altitude during an aborted landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, and a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Other: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: 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 reported that he decided to go around during the landing due to floating and attempted a steep left turn to avoid power lines. The airplane stalled, impacted the ground, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he decided to go around during the landing due to floating and attempted a steep left turn to avoid power lines. The airplane stalled, impacted the ground, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50595](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50595-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 1163-79, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CITABRIA 7GCBC (NO SERIES) - 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: 1163-79 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 3958 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gary Langdale - Registered owner: Gary Langdale - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, September 11, 2014, 55 hours before - Departed: KRUQ, Salisbury, NC - Destination: PVT, Winnsboro, SC - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review April 18, 2014; seat: center; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,300 total, 55 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: FDW, 5 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 20150520010369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150520010369A), May 20, 2015: Bellanca 7GCBC, Winnsboro, SC, Substantial damage. On may 20, 2015 at about 9:40 am, N50595 a Bellanca, 7G-CBC aircraft, serial number 1163-79 crashed on approach to an unimproved landing site near Winnsboro,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91208. 5.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429548&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photograph 1 - Substantial Damage to wings and fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429549&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%201%20-%20Substantial%20Damage%20to%20wings%20and%20fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.