Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Berthold, North Dakota, April 7, 1987
On April 7, 1987 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N88177, was destroyed in an accident near Berthold, North Dakota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- April 7, 1987 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Berthold, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N88177 · no longer on the register · serial 712-74
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF TO THE EAST FROM A FARM DRIVEWAY TO RETURN HOME. WITNESSES SAW THE AIRPLANE MAKE AN IMMEDIATE RIGHT TURN, FOLLOWED BY A LEFT TURN AT APRX 35-50 FT AGL. THE ACFT APPROACHED THE FARM AT APRX 50-100 FT AGL. THE ACFT SUDDENLY PULLED UP, BANKED RIGHT, ROLLED INVERTED, AND CRASHED IN AN OPEN PLOWED FIELD. WITNESSES SAID IT APPEARED THE PLT DID NOT SEE AN ANTENNA MOUNTED ON TOP OF A GRAIN BIN AND MAY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO AVOID HITTING IT. THE PLT HAD FLOWN INTO THE FARM BEFORE AND WAS SAID TO BE AN ACCOMPLISHED AEROBATIC PILOT AND AERIAL APPLICATOR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: ND26 Kenmare ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MOT, 23 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.