Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Kadoka, South Dakota, June 8, 2015
On June 8, 2015 at about 10:15 pm local time, a 1972 Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N11698, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Kadoka, South Dakota (Kadoka Municipal airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in the airplane’s wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2015 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Kadoka, South Dakota · Kadoka Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC, built 1972 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N11698 · no longer on the register · serial 358-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was departing for an aerial application flight. A witness, who observed the airplane climbing out after takeoff, reported that the airplane was about the same height as nearby light poles and was slipping "slightly to the right," when the right wing dropped "sharply." The airplane descended and impacted the ground, and a postimpact fire ensued. A postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies consistent with preimpact failure or malfunction. Phentermine, a stimulant in the amphetamine class of drugs, was noted in the pilot's toxicology report. The level of the medication detected was below the therapeutic range, and stimulants typically speed up psychomotor functioning; therefore, it is unlikely that any effects of phentermine contributed to the pilot's loss of control on takeoff. It is likely that the pilot failed to maintain sufficient airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, resulting in the airplane's wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall with insufficient altitude to recover before impacting the ground. The slipping noted by the witness is consistent with uncoordinated flight, which increases the likelihood of a wing dropping when a stall occurs.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 140 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,564 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 592 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Semper Fi Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 5V8 Kadoka SD at 10:10 pm
- Destination: 5V8 Kadoka SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from PHP, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N11698 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.