# NTSB LAX87LA224: Bellanca 7KCAB, N88314, Fremont, CA, May 30, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 30, 1987, 14:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Fremont, CA - Coordinates: 37.499614, -121.960494 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4996&lon=-121.9605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 25601 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX87LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/25601/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA224 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) WHILE ON FINAL APCH TO LND ON RWY 28, A GLIDER (SCHWEIZER SGS 2-32, N242DB) & A TOW PLANE (BELLANCA 7KCAB, N88314) COLLIDED IN FLT AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 200' AGL. THE TOW PLANE WAS RETURNING FM A LCL TOW MISSION & THE GLIDER WAS RETURNINGFM A LCL SIGHTSEEING FLT. AFTER COLLIDING, THE 2 ACFT LNDD SAFELY. NORMAL PROCEDURES AT THE ARPT WERE FOR TOW PLANES TO FLY A LARGE PATTERN WITH A LONG FINAL APCH & FOR GLIDERS TO FLY A SMALL PATTERN WITH A SHORT FINAL. ALL TRAFFIC LNDG ON RWY 28 WAS TO USE A RIGHT PATTERN. THE TOW PLT SAW THE GLIDER AS HE (THE TOW PLT) WAS TURNING ON A LONG FINAL APCH. AT THAT TIME, HE ESTIMATED THE GLIDER WAS AT 1100' AGL & 1/2 MI IN THE TOW PLANE'S 7:30 POSITION. AS THE TOW PLANE CONTD ON FINAL APCH AT 65 MPH, THE GLIDER CONVERGED FM ABV & BEHIND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE OF THE GLIDER HIT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE TOW PLANE. THE GLIDER PLT DID NOT SEE THE TOW PLANE UNTIL THE MOMENT BFR IMPACT. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIALDAMAGE TO THE TOW PLANE'S VERTICAL STABILIZER, BUT ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE GLIDER. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N88314](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N88314), registered now, S/N 482-74, built 1974 (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: 482-74 - Airframe hours: 2174 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-E2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Skysailing - Registered owner: Willat,Bret G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 6, 1986, 174 hours before - Departed: 8Q7 - Airport: 8Q7, Fremont, runway 28, 2,300 × 30 ft, dirt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N242DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N242DB-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 42, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SCHWEIZER SGS 2-32 - Registry model: [Schweizer SGS 2-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-sgs-2-32) (registry code 8050206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 42 - Airframe hours: 2359 - Engines: NONE NONE unknown - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Sky Sailing - Registered owner: Willat, Bret G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 8Q7 - Airport: 8Q7, Fremont, runway 28, 230 × 30 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N88314; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 674 total, 17 in this make and model, 399 as pilot in command, 97 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N242DB; age 52; commercial; medical: unknown; seat: front; flight hours: 1,666 total, 1,648 in this make and model, 27 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HWD, 12 nm away ## 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 19870530025322A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870530025322A), May 30, 1987: Bbavia 7KCAB, Fremont, CA, Substantial damage. The aircraft was hit from behind by a glider, N242DB, on final. The pilot failed to keep the glider in sight. - [Accident 19870530025321A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870530025321A), May 30, 1987: Scuzer SGS232PN, Fremont, CA, Minor damage. Glider struck stabilizer of 88314 on final. The pilot failed to see and avoid the other aircraft. ## Other investigations on N88314 (3) 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 FTW97LA368](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA368), Sep 19, 1997: Bellanca 7KCAB (N88314), Englewood, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the right main landing gear due to multiple fatigue cracks. - [NTSB LAX84LA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA006), Oct 6, 1983: Bellanca 7KCAB (N88314), Fremont, CA, substantial damage - [NTSB OAK75FVW21](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK75FVW21), Jun 1, 1975: Bellanca 7KCAB (N88314), Las Vegas, NV, 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.