Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Keysville, Virginia, October 8, 1986
On October 8, 1986 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N7100C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Keysville, Virginia (Keysville airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1986 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Keysville, Virginia · Keysville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N7100C · no longer on the register · serial 357-84
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A TAILWHEEL HIGH TOUCHDOWN ON THE 1850 FOOT GRASS STRIP. SHORTLY AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE DROPPED AND, ALTHOUGH THE PILOT SAID HE MOVED THE CONTROL STICK FULLY AFT, THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED INVERTED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 947 hours in all; 178 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 782 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 284 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1986; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W98 Chesterfield VA at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,850 ft by 350 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from LYN, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N7100C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.