Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Itta Bena, Mississippi, August 16, 2014
On August 16, 2014 at about 11:30 pm local time, a 1973 Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N36236, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Itta Bena, Mississippi. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during maneuvering due to an obstruction from air intake filter material being ingested into the carburetor, which resulted in a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2014 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Itta Bena, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC, built 1973 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N36236 · no longer on the register · serial 549-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor and student pilot were practicing simulated forced landings. The flight instructor reported that, during the third simulated forced landing, when the student pilot applied engine power to go around, the engine began to sputter, and it then experienced a total loss of power. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane and performed a forced landing to a cornfield, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a portion of the air intake filter had been ingested into the carburetor and was obstructing the venturi opening, which likely resulted in the loss of engine power. The remaining portion of the air filter was not located, and its preimpact condition could not be determined. The engine examination also revealed that an intake valve inner spring had broken; however, the outer spring remained intact, and the broken inner spring did not contribute to the accident. A review of the maintenance records indicated that the airplane had been operated for about 13 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about 8 months before the accident. A maintenance logbook entry noted that the induction filter was replaced at that time. The engine had accumulated about 1,265 total flight hours at the time of the accident and had not been overhauled since its manufacture about 41 years before the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Simulated/training event during maneuvering
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › Air intake › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,432 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 6,367 as pilot in command; 672 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 19, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 7 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 0 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 2013; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 1,263 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWO Greenwood MS at 11:10 pm
- Destination: GWO Greenwood MS
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from GWO, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N36236 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.