Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Longmont, Colorado, June 30, 1991
On June 30, 1991 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N90994, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longmont, Colorado (Longmont Municipal airport). It was a ferry 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 COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND. FACTORS WERE: A CROSSWIND CONDITION, AND THE PILOT'S TOTAL LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1991 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · Longmont Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N90994 · no longer on the register · serial 442-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A FULL FLAP APPROACH TO RUNWAY 11, NOTED A DIRECT CROSSWIND FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS, AND DECIDED TO DO A WHEEL LANDING. AS THE TAIL SETTLED, THE AIRPLANE TURNED RIGHT AND STARTED SKIPPING TO THE LEFT ON THE MAIN TIRES. THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO GO AROUND. HE HAD ALREADY APPLIED FULL AFT ELEVATOR AND FULL AILERON INTO THE WIND. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND ENTERED A GRASS AREA. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AFTER STRIKING THE TAXIWAY. THE LEFT WING THEN STRUCK THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED TO A STOP.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 545 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 503 as pilot in command; 137 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air West
The flight
- Departed from: GXY Greeley CO at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,800 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.