Bellanca 7GCBC N53972

Summary

On 12 February 1995 at about 18:46 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N53972 was involved in an accident near Modesto, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 February 1995 at 18:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Modesto, California, United States

Coordinates

37.6507, -121.1310

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N53972

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Turlock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX95FA104

1 person died.

THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROACHING A POWER LINE AT LOW ALTITUDE, IT ENTERED AN ABRUPT CLIMBING ATTITUDE. AT THE APEX OF THE CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING WENT DOWN, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE GOING DOWN. THE AIRPLANE THEN CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. A POSTACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO PREEXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT HAD A PREVIOUS MEDICAL HISTORY OF A MYOCARDIUM INFARCTION, COLON CANCER, AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. HOWEVER, HE HAD RECEIVED A MEDICAL EXEMPTION FROM THE FAA MEDICAL ADVISORY PANEL ON 11/12/93. ALSO, A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM REVEALED THAT DURING IMPACT, THE PILOT RECEIVED COMPOUND FRACTURES OF THE UPPER EXTREMITIES THAT SUGGESTED HIS HANDS WERE HOLDING SOMETHING IN FRONT OF HIS BODY AND NOT HANGING LOOSE AT HIS SIDES OR IN HIS LAP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.