Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Arcola, Texas, November 3, 2007
On November 3, 2007 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N712J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arcola, Texas (Houston-Southwest airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control as result of the pilot's failure to compensate for existing wind conditions while landing. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2007 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Arcola, Texas · Houston-Southwest · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N712J · registry record · serial 915-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot lost control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane when he encountered a gust of wind from the right while attempting to land on Runway 27. Before the tailwheel contacted the ground, the tail moved left from the gust of wind causing the airplane to turn into the wind. The pilot was unable to compensate for gust of wind and lost control of the airplane. An attempt to execute a go-around was unsuccessful, and the airplane drifted off the 100-foot wide asphalt runway. The airplane contacted standing water in a nearby ditch, nosed over, and came to rest in the inverted position. The pilot reported the winds were from 290 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 12 knots. The pilot reported having accumulated a total of 14-hours in the same make and model airplane.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 222 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 147 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,693.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-7 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GLS Galveston TX at 6:30 pm
- Destination: AXH Arcola TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 9 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
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.