Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Bally, Pennsylvania, July 12, 1992
On July 12, 1992 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N57472, was destroyed in an accident near Bally, Pennsylvania (Butter Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1992 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bally, Pennsylvania · Butter Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N57472 · registry record · serial 512-73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 34 WHEN THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A 20 FOOT TREE BEFORE FALLING TO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE RIGHT, HE UNSUCCESSFULLY TRIED TO COMPENSATE BY APPLYING LEFT RUDDER AND SOME LEFT BRAKE. THE AIRPLANE THEN STRUCK A DIRT MOUND, AND BECAME AIRBORNE BRIEFLY IN A NOSE HIGH LOW SPEED ATTITUDE BEFORE IT STRUCK THE TREE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY THE FAA DID NOT DISCLOSE EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL NOR FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 132 hours in all; 33 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,795 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 30, 1992; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kutztown Aviation
The flight
- Destination: N31 Kutztown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,420 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from ABE, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.