Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Huron, South Dakota, May 16, 1986
On May 16, 1986 at about 1:15 am local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N53756, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huron, South Dakota. 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 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
- May 16, 1986 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Huron, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N53756 · no longer on the register · serial 874-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED POWERLINES AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO GROUND IMPACT. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS CHECKING FIELDS WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE ACFT WAS TRAVELING TO THE WEST INTO THE SETTING SUN WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
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: student
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 36 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 595 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1985; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HON Huron SD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 24,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:40 am from HON, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.