# NTSB NYC94LA083: Bellanca 7GCBC, N36236, Lewisburg, WV, May 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 1994, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Lewisburg, WV - Coordinates: 37.800148, -80.430519 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8001&lon=-80.4305&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38753/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA083 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE INFLIGHT DECISION, INADVERTENT VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE WHICH RESULTED IN INFLIGHT COLLISION WITH TREES. A FACTOR WAS INADEQUATE ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE DECIDED TO LEAVE ON THE FLIGHT A DAY EARLIER, BECAUSE OF FORECASTED WEATHER OVER HIS INTENDED ROUTE OF FLIGHT, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED FOR INSTRUMENT FLIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AFTER THE FLIGHT STARTED, THE PILOT SAID HE ENCOUNTERED FOG, AND ELECTED TO LAND, REFUEL, AND WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO CLEAR. AFTER WAITING APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 HOURS, HE TOOK OFF, AND AGAIN ENCOUNTERED FOG. HE ELECTED TO TURN BACK AND LAND AT THE SAME AIRPORT AGAIN. THIS TIME HE WAITED SEVERAL HOURS ON THE GROUND, CHECKED WEATHER AND TOOK OFF AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF FLIGHT HE AGAIN ENCOUNTERED FOG. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT, '...TOLD (PASSENGER) LOOKS LIKE WEATHER IS GETTING [BAD]...[AND] WE WERE RETURNING TO [HOME AIRPORT]...I MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN, WAS SETTING MY LORAN...WHEN ENCOUNTERED FOG, NEXT THING I SAW WAS TREES....' THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES AND CAME TO REST WITH ENGINE RESTING ON A ROCK AND THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 1994, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N36236, piloted by Mr. Sydnor C. Newman Jr., collided with trees while maneuvering near Lewisburg, West Virginia. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. According to the pilot, he decided to leave on the flight a day earlier, because of forecasted weather over his intended route of flight, and the airplane was not equipped for instrument flight. In the vicinity of Lewisburg, West Virginia, and approximately 2 hours after the flight started, the pilot said he encountered fog. He elected to land at the Lewisburg Airport, refuel, and wait for the weather to clear. The pilot wrote in his statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: ...landed...at 09:00. Took off again approximately one and one half (1 1/2) hours later, encountered fog again...returned again to (Lewisburg). After checking weather we took off at 15:00, after seeing sunshine...told (passenger) looks like weather is getting [bad]...[and] we were returning to FVX [Farmville, Virginia, home airport]...I made a 180 degree turn, was setting my Loran to FVX when encountered fog, next thing I saw was trees... The airplane struck trees, and came to rest with the engine resting against a rock with the engine still running. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36236](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36236-2017-03-31), registration cancelled 2017-03-31, S/N 549-73, built 1973 (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: 549-73 - Airframe hours: 954 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sydnor C. Newman Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 1994, 4 hours before - Destination: CRW, CHARLESTON, WV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,500 total, 100 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 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 19940517011199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940517011199A), May 17, 1994: Bbavia 7GCBC, Lewisburg, WV, Substantial damage. Encountered fog landed lwb. Cleared. Departed again. Fog. Turned back into fog. Hit trees. Stopped engine running. ## Other investigations on N36236 (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 ERA14LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA392), Aug 16, 2014: Bellanca 7GCBC (N36236), Itta Bena, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during maneuvering due to an obstruction from air intake filter material being ingested into the carburetor, which resulted in a forced landing. 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.