Bellanca 7KCAB accident near East Haddam, Connecticut, July 17, 2022
On July 17, 2022 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1975 Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N8680V, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near East Haddam, Connecticut (Goodspeed airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2022 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- East Haddam, Connecticut · Goodspeed · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB, built 1975 · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N8680V · no longer on the register · serial 513-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
On the final flight of the evening, after performing six previous flights, all of which were uneventful, the pilot took a passenger up for a final flight in calm wind conditions. After the flight that lasted about 10 minutes, he returned to land. During landing, the touchdown felt “good”, but the airplane began to veer to the left and he reacted too slowly. He attempted to correct with right rudder, then added power to abort the landing but the airplane continued to turn left and departed the runway surface. During the runway excursion the right landing gear separated and the right wing impacting the ground resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 47 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 28, 2021; 4,250 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 4,200 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,120 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from SNC, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSNC 180015Z AUTO 19004KT 10SM CLR 24/22 A3003 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on February 16, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation_faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Mechanic to FAA Damage Assessment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record_passenger Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array_ Accident Site and Damage | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.