- Date
- September 4, 1999, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Columbus, MT
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8525Bellanca 7GCBC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990904047569A
- Case key
- 47344
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A wet runway surface was a factor.
Analysis
The pilot reported that during the landing roll on a wet runway surface, he applied braking action and the airplane skidded to the right and veered off the runway. The aircraft ground-looped and came to rest in the mud next to the runway. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Factual narrative
On September 4, 1999, approximately 0830 mountain daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N8525, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged in a ground loop on landing at Columbus, Montana. The private pilot-in-command and his passenger were not injured in the accident. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight originated at Laurel, Montana, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that the runway was wet or damp. The sky was clear, with calm winds. During the landing roll, braking action was applied and the aircraft skidded to the right and veered off the runway. The aircraft ground-looped and came to rest in the mud next to the runway.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8525
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7GCBC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 448-73
- Airframe hours
- 525
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lon E. Morris
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 12, 1999 · 25 hours before
- Departed
- 6S8 · Laurel, MT
- Destination
- 6S3
- Airport
- 6S3 · Columbus, runway 28, 3,800 × 75 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
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 422 total · 21 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BIL, 32 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.