# NTSB GAA15CA144: Bellanca 7GCBC, N8723, Williston, ND, June 28, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2015, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Williston, ND
- Coordinates: 48.174167, -103.632774 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1742&lon=-103.6328&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91457
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91457/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91457
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA144

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion, and a collision with runway marking signs.

## 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)
- [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)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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)
- [Landing-landing roll: 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)
- [Landing-landing roll: 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

During the landing roll the pilot experienced an "aggressive shimmy" from the tailwheel and elected to abort the landing. He applied full power; the airplane veered off of the runway to the right and impacted two runway marking signs, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and wing strut. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation

## Factual narrative

During the landing roll the pilot experienced an "aggressive shimmy" from the tailwheel and elected to abort the landing. He applied full power; the airplane veered off of the runway to the right and impacted two runway marking signs, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and wing strut. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8723](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8723-2018-06-01), registration cancelled 2018-06-01, S/N 466-73 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 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: 466-73
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 3192
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Thomas T. Ritter
- Registered owner: Thomas T. Ritter
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 2015
- Departed: ISN, Williston, ND
- Destination: ISN, Williston, ND
- Airport: ISN, Sloulin Fld Intl, runway 29, 6,650 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 591 total, 8 in this make and model, 500 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KISN

## 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 20150628010719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150628010719A), Jun 28, 2015: Bellanca 7GCBC, Williston, ND, Substantial damage. During practice touch and go take-off and landings, the pilot stated that after completing 3 previous touch and goes, on the accident landing, the tail wheel…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91457. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Phone Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429474&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Phone%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 View of damage from rear of airplane (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429476&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20View%20of%20damage%20from%20rear%20of%20airplane%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 View of damaged airport signs (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429479&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20View%20of%20damaged%20airport%20signs%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%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.

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