# NTSB WPR25LA057: Bellanca 7GCBC, N36249, Glendale, AZ, December 9, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 9, 2024, 14:07 local (21:07 UTC)
- Place: Glendale, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.526917, -112.29513
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5269&lon=-112.2951&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199401
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199401/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199401
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA057

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. .

## 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 7GCBC, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [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 7GCBC, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Bellanca 7GCBC, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1220601), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing, the airplane ground looped to the left and began to skid on its right main tire and right wingtip. Subsequently, the right main wheel and axle assembly separated, and the airplane came to rest nose low. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 1 and the wind was calm. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36249](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N36249), registered now, S/N 554-73 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC
- Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 554-73
- Year built: 1973
- Airframe hours: 4300
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2023
- Departed: GEU, Glendale, AZ
- Airport: GEU, Glendale Regional Airport, runway 01, 7,150 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; seat: front

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KGEU
- METAR: KGEU 092047Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/M01 A3000

## 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 20241209021489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241209021489A), Dec 9, 2024: Bellanca 7GCBC, Glendale, AZ, Substantial damage. The aircraft was in closed traffic. After two go-arounds, the aircraft ground-looped on the runway. The investigating ASI reviewed historical weather (METAR)…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199401. 7.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18452901&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Flattened_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18453183&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MoR-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� statement from airport operations (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18452675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MoR-%20Airport%20Manager-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 870 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18453193&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.

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