# NTSB WPR13CA166: Bellanca 7ECA, N8564V, Sonoma, CA, March 16, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 16, 2013, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Sonoma, CA
- Coordinates: 38.254444, -122.433891 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2544&lon=-122.4339&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 24, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86530
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13CA166
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86530/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86530
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA166

## Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the touchdown and landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Bellanca 7ECA, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1220460), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that, while on final approach, the airplane was too high; therefore, he conducted a slip maneuver to lose altitude. As the airplane touched down on the runway, it veered to the right. Despite pilot rudder control inputs, the airplane exited the runway and impacted a fence and the wind indicator, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while on final approach, the airplane was too high; therefore, he conducted a slip maneuver to lose altitude. As the airplane touched down on the runway, it veered to the right. Despite pilot control inputs, the airplane exited the runway and impacted a fence and the wind indicator, substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8564V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8564V), registered now, S/N 1049-74 (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: 1049-74
- Airframe hours: 3699
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 Series 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Travis Morton, doing business as Carneros Aviation
- Registered owner: Travis Morton
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 28, 2013
- Departed: 0Q9, Sonoma, CA
- Destination: 0Q9, Sonoma, CA
- Airport: 0Q9, Sonoma Skypark Airport, runway 26, 2,480 × 40 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 17; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 18 total, 18 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: APC, 8 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 20130316005219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130316005219A), Mar 16, 2013: Bellanca 7ECA, Sonoma, CA, Substantial damage. Student pilot was on first solo flight. Succesfully completed 1 traffic pattern and landing, on the second traffic pattern, aircraft was high on final, stuent…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86530. 380 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390397&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF

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.