Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Wellington, Texas, January 21, 2017
On January 21, 2017 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1972 Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N91Z, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Wellington, Texas (Marian Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 21, 2017 · about 8:20 pm local time · cases in 2017
- Place
- Wellington, Texas · Marian Airpark · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC, built 1972 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N91Z · no longer on the register · serial 359-72
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 492 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 453 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 31, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 2016; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Boedeker Flying Service INC (Pending)
The flight
- Departed from: F06 Wellington TX
- Destination: F06 Wellington TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,800 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.35 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from CDS, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Witness Photo of Airplane Above Departure End of Runway
Photo 2 – Witness Photo of Airplane in Right Bank Turn Near Departure End of the Runway
Photo 3 - Witness Photo of Airplane Climb with a Right Bank
Photo 4 - Witness Photo of Airplane at Higher Altitude with a Left Bank
Photo 5 - Witness Photo of Airplane at Higher Altitude with an Approximate 80 to 90-Degree Left Bank
Photo 6 – Last Witness Photo of Airplane with a Nose-Down Left Bank Before Impact with Terrain
Photo 7 – Last Witness Photo of Airplane with a Nose-Down Left Bank Before Impact with TerrainThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on August 7, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Records of Conversation | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | FAA-H-8083-32-AMT-POWERPLANT-VOL-2 Overhaul Excerpt | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Toxicology | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Party Statement | PDF, 14 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Pilot Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 12 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Recommended Overhauls | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Aircraft Logbook Excerpts | PDF, 40 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Photo Log | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | Wreckage Release | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N91Z: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Bellanca 7 Citabria 1,226 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Bellanca 2,698 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B 180 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Marian Airpark · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,235 since 1982 · 1,058 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,939 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN17FA080.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.