Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Perrinton, Michigan, August 13, 1986
On August 13, 1986, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N36284, was substantially damaged in an accident near Perrinton, Michigan. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1986
- Place
- Perrinton, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N36284 · no longer on the register · serial 561-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PIC AND HIS PAX, ALSO A PVT PLT, DEPARTED THE PIC'S PVT AIRSTRIP FOR A LOCAL PLEASURE FLT. AN ACFT, SIMILAR IN SIZE AND COLOR TO THE PLT'S WAS SEEN DOING LOW LEVEL FLT AT TREE TOP LEVEL WITH ABRUPT PULL-UPS NEAR WHERE THE PLT NORMALLY FLEW. THE PLT AND PAX FAILED TO RETURN FROM THEIR FLT AND THE ACFT AND ITS OCCUPANTS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED IN A FIELD CLOSE TO THE PLT'S RESIDENCE. IMPACT DAMAGE INDICATES THE ACFT WAS PROBABLY IN A LEFT TURN SPIN JUST PRIOR TO CRASHING. THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND ITS TWO OCCUPANTS WERE KILLED.
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: 340 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 285 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1986; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Perrinton MI at 11:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
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.