Bellanca 7GCBC N91Z

Summary

On 21 January 2017 at about 20:20 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N91Z, operated by BOEDEKER FLYING SERVICE INC (Pending), was involved in an accident near Wellington, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 January 2017 at 20:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Wellington, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Marian Airpark (F06)

Coordinates

34.8501, -100.2103

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N91Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1972

Engines

1

Operator

BOEDEKER FLYING SERVICE INC (Pending)

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wellington → Wellington

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17FA080

2 people died.

The pilot's improper decision to perform a steep turn at low altitude, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was taking his cousin for an airplane ride. During takeoff, the airplane remained in ground effect until it reached a point near or past the departure end of the runway, and then it entered a right climbing turn. At an altitude of about 100 to 150 ft above ground level, the airplane entered a left turn with a bank angle that increased to about 80° to 90° before the airplane descended and impacted the ground. Wreckage distribution and ground scarring were consistent with a nose-down, low-speed, impact. It is likely that the excessive left bank angle resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.