- Date
- August 10, 1996, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Bedford, MA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N5067CBellanca 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 10, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960810022319A
- Case key
- 39229
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a ground loop/swerve. The variable wind condition was a related factor.
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 airplane went off the side of the runway during the landing, followed by collapse of the right main gear. The pilot reported: 'We came over the numbers at 80 mph indicated airspeed, and I flared the aircraft and we made a wheel landing, touching down at approximately 65 mph indicated airspeed. Everything was fine at first and then the aircraft veered to the right, into the wind. 'I corrected with left rudder pedal, and as I did, the tail wheel settled onto the runway. The aircraft made an abrupt turn to the left, and I realized we were in a ground loop. I added a little power, got the tail wheel off the ground, and recovered from the ground loop, but we were heading off the left side of the runway, approximately 85 to 90 degrees from runway heading. I had regained control of the aircraft, but we didn't have enough room to maneuver back onto the runway. I closed the throttle and started braking the aircraft. When we departed the runway, I leaned the mixture, and continued braking. Everything was fine until we hit a bump, and the aircraft jerked violently to the left, resting on the right side.' The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction. He stated the accident could have been prevented if he had 'additional training in crosswind landings for tail dragger aircraft.'
Factual narrative
On August 10, 1996 about 1515 eastern daylight time, N5067C, a Bellanca 7ECA, a personal flight, had a loss of control during landing on runway 29 at Hanscom Field Airport, Bedford, Massachusetts. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The airplane went off the side of the runway during the landing followed by collapse of the right main gear. The pilot reported: "We came over the numbers at 80 mph indicated airspeed, and I flared the aircraft and we made a wheel landing, touching down at approximately 65 mph indicated airspeed. Everything was fine at first and then the aircraft veered to the right, into the wind.
"I corrected with left rudder pedal, and as I did, the tail wheel settled onto the runway. The aircraft made an abrupt turn to the left, and I realized we were in a ground loop. I added a little power, got the tail wheel off the ground, and recovered from the ground loop, but we were heading off the left side of the runway, approximately 85 to 90 degrees from runway heading. I had regained control of the aircraft, but we didn't have enough room to maneuver back onto the runway. I closed the throttle and started braking the aircraft. When we departed the runway, I leaned the mixture, and continued braking. Everything was fine until we hit a bump, and the aircraft jerked violently to the left, resting on the right side."
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. He stated the accident could have been prevented if he had "additional training in crosswind landings for tail dragger aircraft."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5067C
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1333-80
- Airframe hours
- 2,224
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-K2C, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hanscom Afb Aero Club
- Registered owner
- Samuel Black
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 31, 1996 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- BED
- Airport
- BED · Hanscom Field, runway 29, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 147 total · 6 in this make and model · 105 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 28 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BED
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N5067C · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.