# NTSB LAX04CA134: Bellanca 7ECA, N5032G, Groveland, CA, February 7, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 7, 2004, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Groveland, CA - Coordinates: 37.861667, -120.17778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8617&lon=-120.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58789/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA134 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path and misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a loss of directional control and collision with terrain ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The airplane made a hard landing and veered of the runway while attempting to land. When the airplane was on final approach, the pilot determined that he was high above the glide path, but elected to perform the landing. During touchdown, the airplane hit hard and bounced back into the air. Upon returning back down onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. It continued off the runway and encountered a ditch. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 7, 2004, about 1200 Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N5032G, made a hard landing and veered of the runway at Pine Mountain Lake Airport (Q68), Groveland, California. The airplane was registered to a private individual, and operated by Amelia Reid Aviation under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California, about 1045. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was attempting to land on runway 27. When the airplane was on final approach, he determined that he was high above the glide path, but elected to perform the landing. During touchdown, the airplane hit hard and bounced back into the air. Upon returning back down onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. It continued off the runway and encountered a ditch. The damage to airplane included the left wing main spar cracking, and the left main gear separated from the airframe. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5032G](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5032G), registered now, S/N 1283-79, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bellanca 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1875-15 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert W. Reid III, doing business as Amelia Reid Aviation - Registered owner: Ameila Reid - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Departed: RHV, San Jose, CA - Destination: Q68, Groveland, CA - Airport: Q68, Pine Mountain Lake Airport, runway 27 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 117 total, 80 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Observed at: 022, 16 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 20040207000869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040207000869A), Feb 7, 2004: Bbavia 7ECA, Groveland, CA, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was high on final approach. Although "marginal" the PIC continued the approach by slipping the aircraft. The aircraft was landed hard and… ## Other investigations on N5032G (2) 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. - [NTSB WPR13CA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA255), May 31, 2013: Bellanca 7ECA (N5032G), San Martin, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. - [NTSB LAX80DVD33](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVD33), Aug 1, 1980: Bellanca 7ECA (N5032G), Shelter Cove, CA, substantial damage 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.