Bellanca Cruisemaster accident near Gainesville, Texas, May 19, 2022
On May 19, 2022 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 1957 Bellanca Cruisemaster, registered N7655B, was destroyed in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Gainesville, Texas (Gainesville Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to his distraction with the wind gusts.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2022 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gainesville, Texas · Gainesville Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca Cruisemaster, built 1957
- Registration
- N7655B · no longer on the register · serial 4006
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on final approach for runway 18 the airplane bounced around in gusty wind conditions. The pilot was focused on the wind gusts, and he forgot to put the landing gear down. The airplane touched down on the lower fuselage and slid to a stop. The pilot observed smoke emitting from the engine after the landing. The airplane was consumed by a post-crash fire.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Other weather encounter during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: helicopter
- Flight time: 846 hours in all; 390 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,880 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 2022; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-K (piston); 2,880 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F30 Sulphur OK at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 17 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.59 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KGLE, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KGLE 192135Z AUTO 17017G22KT 10SM CLR 32/18 A2959 RMK AO2 T03210184 PWINO
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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN22LA207 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Pilot Report Summary CEN22LA207 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo Array CEN22LA207 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N7655B 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.