# NTSB NYC04CA155: Bellanca 7ECA, N57430, North Creek, NY, July 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 3, 2004, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: North Creek, NY - Coordinates: 43.7, -73.98278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7000&lon=-73.9828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59551 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04CA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59551/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04CA155 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of experience in tail-wheeled airplanes. ## 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 - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was landing the tail-wheeled airplane to the northwest, on a 3,000-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, turf runway. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the right, and it's right wingtip impacted a tree. The pilot reported that the winds were calm, and he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions. The pilot had accumulated about 122 hours of total flight experience, which included 11 hours in tail-wheel airplanes. He received an endorsement to operate tail-wheel airplanes 9 days prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2004, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N57430, was substantially damaged while landing at the Bennetts Airport, North Creek, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that he was landing the tail-wheeled airplane to the northwest, on a 3,000-foot-long, 150-foot-wide, turf runway. After touchdown, the airplane veered to the right, and it's right wingtip impacted a tree. The pilot reported that the winds were calm, and he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions. According to the pilot's logbook, prior to the accident, he had accumulated about 122 hours of total flight experience, which included 11 hours in tail-wheel airplanes. He received an endorsement to operate tail-wheel airplanes on June 24, 2004. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57430](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57430), registered now, S/N 944-73, built 1973 (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: 944-73 - Airframe hours: 1470 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard F. Case - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 29, 2003, 65 hours before - Departed: JOHNSTOWN, NY - Destination: 0NY0, NORTH CREEK, NY - Airport: 0NY0, Bennetta Airport, runway NW, 3,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 124 total, 11 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: GFL, 31 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 20040703012189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040703012189A), Jul 3, 2004: Bbavia 7ECA, North Creek, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 3rd, 2004 pilot richard f. case jr. departed johnstown fulton co. (NY0) airport with his wife for a short flight to bennett field, North Creek,… ## Other investigations on N57430 (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 FTW88LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88LA144), Aug 7, 1988: Bellanca 7ECA (N57430), Kingsland, TX, 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.