Bellanca 7ECA N5032G

Summary

On 7 February 2004 at about 20:00 local time, a Bellanca 7ECA registered N5032G, operated by Robert W. Reid III, was involved in an accident near Groveland, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 February 2004 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Groveland, California, United States

Nearest airport

Pine Mountain Lake Airport (Q68)

Coordinates

37.8617, -120.1778

Aircraft

Bellanca 7ECA

Registration

N5032G

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert W. Reid III

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Jose → Groveland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX04CA134

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path and misjudged landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing. Also causal was the pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a loss of directional control and collision with terrain

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane made a hard landing and veered of the runway while attempting to land. When the airplane was on final approach, the pilot determined that he was high above the glide path, but elected to perform the landing. During touchdown, the airplane hit hard and bounced back into the air. Upon returning back down onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. It continued off the runway and encountered a ditch. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.