# NTSB LAX04CA252: Bellanca 7KCAB, N8717V, Casa Grande, AZ, June 29, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 29, 2004, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Casa Grande, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.954723, -111.766944
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9547&lon=-111.7669&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 59585
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04CA252
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59585/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA252

## Probable cause

the pilot misjudged the flare resulting in a bounced landing.  Also causal was the pilot's inadequate recovery from the bounced landing resulting in a loss of directional control.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven

## Analysis

The pilot lost directional control of the airplane during landing and it ground looped.  During the landing touchdown the airplane bounced, and the pilot attempted to salvage the landing.  He said that he either overcontrolled the airplane or hit a brake.  The plane veered off the runway, and spun around to the right striking the left wing tip on the ground and separating the left wheel.

## Factual narrative

On June 29, 2004, at 1100 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N8717V, collided with the ground during the landing roll at Casa Grande, Arizona.  The airline transport pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The pilot and single passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight plan had been filed.  The flight originated at Blythe, California, about 1005.

The pilot told the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator that his approach to Casa Grande was normal.  During the landing touchdown, the airplane bounced and the pilot attempted to salvage the landing.  He said that he either overcontrolled the airplane or hit a brake.  The plane veered off the runway, and spun around to the right striking the left wing tip on the ground and separating the left wheel.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8717V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8717V), registered now, S/N 523-75, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bellanca 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 523-75
- Engines: Lycoming AEIO-320-E2B reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Joseph M. Sepko
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Departed: KBLH, Blythe, CA
- Destination: KCHD, Casa Grande, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: KCGZ, Casa Grande, runway 23

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 17,500 total, 8 in this make and model, 127 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20040629013219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040629013219A), Jun 29, 2004: Bbavia 7KCAB, Casa Grande, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was arriving at the Casa Grande, AZ (cgz) airport, visual, normal approach to runway 23. After touching down on the centerline, the aircraft…

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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