# NTSB LAX86FA320: Bellanca 7GCBC, N50443, Van Nuys, CA, August 9, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 8, 1986, 17:45 local (Aug 9, 1986, 00:45 UTC)
- Place: Van Nuys, CA
- Coordinates: 34.200302, -118.439414 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2003&lon=-118.4394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 19, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24935
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX86FA320
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24935/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86FA320

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, cruise
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
- Midair collision, cruise
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

TWO PLTS, 1 FLYING BELLANCA 7GCBC, N50443, THE OTHER FLYING CHAMPION 7KCAB, N443E, TOOK THEIR GIRL FRIENDS ON A FLT WHICH INCLUDED FORMATION FLYING. THE CHAMPION PLT RPRTD HE FLEW FORMATION WITH THE BELLANCA WITH APRX A 20' SPREAD. RPRTDLY, ABOUT HALF WAY THRU THE FLT, WHILE THE CHAMPION WAS ON BELLANCA'S LEFT WING, THE BELLANCA PITCHED UP ABRUPTLY &WENT OUT OF FORMATION. AFTER REJOINING, THE CHAMPION PLT NOTICED THAT THE BELLANCA'S LEFT STABILIZER WAS BENT ON THE LEFT SIDE. LATER, SMALL ABRASIONS WERE FND ON THE CHAMPION'S RGT WING TIP WHICH MATCHED THE BELLANCA'S LEFT STABILIZER. THE PAX OF THE CHAMPION INDCD THAT AT TIMES DRG THE FLT, THE 2 ACFT CAME IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF EACH OTHER.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N50443](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N50443), registered now, S/N 1128-79, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- 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: 112879
- Airframe hours: 2486
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: San Val
- Registered owner: Albert B. Krameer
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 1986
- Departed: AVX, AVALON, CA
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N443E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N443E), registered now, S/N 102 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7KCAB
- Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 102
- Airframe hours: 1780
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sussex Aviation
- Registered owner: Sari March Schnepf
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 9, 1986
- Departed: AVX, AVALON, CA
- Destination: VNY, VAN NUYS, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N50443; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,300 total, 3 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N443E; age 23; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 147 total, 66 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19860808083862A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860808083862A), Aug 8, 1986: Bbavia 7GCBC, Van Nuys, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft was struck by N443E during formation flight. The pilot continued to destination and landed safely.
- [Accident 19860808083861A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860808083861A), Aug 8, 1986: Bbavia 7KCAB, Van Nuys, CA, Minor damage. The aircraft struck N50443 during formation flight. The pilot continued to destination and landed safely.

## Other investigations on N50443 (1)

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 WPR23LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA312), Aug 9, 2023: Bellanca 7GCBC (N50443), Dixon, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of directional control after striking an unidentified object during landing on an unimproved runway, and his subsequent use of excessive braking that resulted in a nose-over.

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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