# NTSB LAX95LA156: Bellanca 7KCAB, N333JS, Tucson, AZ, April 7, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 7, 1995, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.329185, -110.97924 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3292&lon=-110.9792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29070 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA156 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29070/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA156 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for the prevailing wind conditions which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop. The crosswind and the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft are factors in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - roll ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED DURING THE LANDING ROLL ON RUNWAY 19. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE FAILED TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PREVAILING CROSSWIND AND THAT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE SURFACE WINDS WERE FROM 210 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 18 KNOTS. THE PILOT HAD ACCRUED 10 HOURS IN THE CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative On April 7, 1995, at 1600 hours mountain standard time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N333JS, ground looped during the landing roll on runway 19 at La Cholla Airpark, Tucson, Arizona. The pilot was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight. The airplane, registered to and operated by Taildragger Pilots, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at La Cholla Airpark at 1530 hours. The operator said in a telephone interview conducted on April 13, 1995, that the pilot failed to correct for prevailing crosswinds. The surface winds were from 210 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 18 knots. The pilot said in the aircraft accident report that he " . . . failed to maintain directional control . . . " and that he " . . . did not compensate for [the prevailing] crosswind . . . . " He also indicated that he accrued 10.2 hours in the accident airplane and that the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N333JS), registered now, S/N 612-77, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7KCAB - Registry model: [Bellanca 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7kcab) (registry code 1220701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-320-series) (registry code 41500, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 612-77 - Airframe hours: 2165 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-320-E2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Taildragger Pilots, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 2, 1994, 57 hours before - Departed: 40E - Airport: 40E, La Cholla, runway 19, 4,500 × 0 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 120 total, 10 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 15 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19950407009379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950407009379A), Apr 7, 1995: Bbavia 7KCAB, Tucson, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost directional control landing in quartering crosswind. Ground looped. Low time in tail dragger and strong wind. ## Other investigations on N333JS (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 LAX96LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA176), Apr 23, 1996: Bellanca 7KCAB (N333JS), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to adequately compensate for gusting crosswind conditions and to maintain directional control. A factor in the accident was unattended construction equipment parked in close… 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.