Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Franklin, Indiana, February 21, 2022
On February 21, 2022 at about 7:55 pm local time, a 1977 Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N2521Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Franklin, Indiana (Franklin Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control in the landing pattern resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2022 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Indiana · Franklin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC, built 1977 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N2521Z · no longer on the register · serial 994-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was performing touch and go landings when he stalled the airplane. The airplane departed controlled flight and impacted in a field near the airport and sustained substantial damage to the front of the fuselage and both wings. A post accident examination of the airplane showed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 4,250 hours in all; 105 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 13, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,607 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 2022; 4 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 2,607 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 16 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from KBAK, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBAK 211950Z 20016KT 10SM OVC050 16/05 A2999
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on October 7, 2022. 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 | Memorandum for the Record Witness Location and Witness Statement Summary CEN22LA129 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Administration Information CEN22LA129 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.