# NTSB WPR19LA100: Bellanca 7GCAA, N11666, Watsonville, CA, February 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 9, 2019, 10:39 local (18:39 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36.935832, -121.789718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9358&lon=-121.7897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Lycoming Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 99168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99168/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99168 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA100 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control during a go-around for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCAA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=1220501), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and pilot were conducting a flight review. The instructor reported that “everything looked good” during the simulated emergency landing before the pilot initiated a planned go-around while on final approach. The instructor did not recall the accident sequence. The airplane impacted terrain near the runway in a steep nose-down attitude consistent with a loss of control. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. Calm to light wind was reported in the vicinity of the accident site around the time of the accident, with no significant low-level wind shear or turbulence below 1,000 ft. The investigation was unable to determine the reason for the loss of control. ## Factual narrative On February 9, 2019, about 1039 Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7GCAA airplane, N11666, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Watsonville, California. The flight instructor and private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. The instructor reported that the purpose of the flight was to conduct a flight review for the private pilot. They departed Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI), Watsonville, California, to the southwest toward the coast and then set up on a left downwind for a simulated emergency landing to runway 28 at Monterey Bay Academy Airport (CA66), Watsonville, California. Due to the recent rain, they were not planning to land on the grass runway. The instructor stated that during the turn from base to final, “everything looked good” and the pilot initiated a go-around as planned. He further stated that the engine was running and producing power throughout the approach; however, he did not recall the accident sequence. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the airplane came to rest in an upright, nose-down position about 420 ft short of the approach end of runway 28, about 25 ft from the right side of the runway. The airplane impacted terrain in a steep nose-down attitude and displayed some rotational signatures. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the weather conditions revealed a trough of low pressure extended along the California coast in the immediate vicinity west of the accident site, with a general weak pressure gradient over the Watsonville area. The closest weather reporting location, about 3 nm, reported calm winds. A sounding model depicted a light southerly surface wind from 160° at 4 knots with no significant low-level wind shear or turbulence below 1,000 ft at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11666](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11666-2020-04-03), registration cancelled 2020-04-03, S/N 235-72, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCAA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCAA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcaa) (registry code 1220501) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 235-72 - Year built: 1972 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2018 - Departed: WVI, Watsonville, CA - Destination: WVI, Watsonville, CA - Airport: CA66, Monterey Bay Academy, runway 28, 2,200 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: front; flight hours: 391 total - Flight instructor; age 52; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 18, 2017; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,272.3 total, 531.5 in this make and model, 1,122 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 0.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: WVI, 3 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 20190209010079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190209010079A), Feb 9, 2019: Bellanca 7GCAA, Watsonville, CA, Destroyed. On February 09, 2019, at approximately 1000 PST, N11666 departed Watsonville airport (wvi). In a statement from the CFI that was sitting in the back seat, they… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99168. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11836809&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 433 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11836829&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA100%20-%20Watsonville,%20CA%20Weather_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine examination report (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 639 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11836633&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR19LA100%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 217 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11837628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Certification%20of%20Party%20Representative_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 567 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13623727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form_Redacted-Rel.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.