- Date
- March 1, 1996, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- South Wales, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N7807SBellanca 7KCAB
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 20, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960301047509A
- Case key
- 39155
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper flare and failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had practiced two takeoffs and landings at his base airstrip, then departed the pattern and flew to another airstrip for five touch-and-go landings. He then flew back to his base airstrip and established the airplane on an approach to runway 29. The pilot stated that while on final approach, the airplane's angle of descent was low, and he added power to maintain altitude. After clearing the trees at the end of the runway, he then leveled the nose for a short field landing. The pilot stated that the airplane did not respond and he 'pulled the stick full aft and made a hard landing.' After landing, the airplane veered right, and the right wing struck trees along the side of the runway. The pilot estimated that the winds were from 300 degrees at 22 knots, gusting to 25. The sod strip was about 4,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and surrounded by 75-foot high trees on all sides.
Factual narrative
On March 1, 1996, at 1500 eastern standard time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, N7807S, was substantially damaged during landing at a private airstrip near South Wales, New York. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from South Wales, at 1400. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he performed 2 takeoffs and landings at the South Wales Airport. He then departed the pattern and flew to another airstrip where he performed five touch and go landings. The pilot then flew back to South Wales and established the airplane on an approach to runway 29.
He further stated:
"...I made a normal approach to runway 29 and found my angle of descent was too low, so I added power to maintain altitude. After clearing the trees at the end of runway 29, I leveled the nose for a short field landing. The plane did not respond...I pulled the stick full aft and made a hard landing. The aircraft then made a turn to the right and...the right wing struck a tree...When I exited the aircraft I saw the tail wheel was bent to the right..."
The pilot reported that the winds were from 300 degrees at 22 knots, gusting to 25.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the runway was 4,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and surrounded by 75 foot high trees on all sides.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7807S
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7KCAB
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 584-76
- Airframe hours
- 520
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-320-E2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William L. Christie
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 1, 1995 · 4 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Airport
- NONE · South Wales, runway 29, 4,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 74
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,056 total · 338 in this make and model · 1,056 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 22 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 9 °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.