Bellanca 7KCAB accident near Accident, Maryland, October 28, 2022
On October 28, 2022 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1972 Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N68531, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Accident, Maryland (Garrett County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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 roll in crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2022 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Accident, Maryland · Garrett County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB, built 1972 · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N68531 · registry record · serial 321-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while on a personal flight he was attempting to execute a crosswind landing when the airplane encountered a gust of wind that raised the right wing and the airplane “weather vaned” to the right and into the wind. He applied full left rudder to correct the airplane’s direction but was unable. The airplane departed the right side of the runway, went down an embankment, and nosed over coming to rest nearly inverted. Both wings were substantially damaged during the accident. 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 defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing
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
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 475 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 2022; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 E2A (piston); 475 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 01G Perry NY at 2:00 pm
- Destination: AFP Wadesboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from 2G4
Weather report (METAR): METAR K2G4 282000Z AUTO 15009KT 10SM CLR 08/01 A3039 RMK AO1
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 13, 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/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Pilot Statement to FAA | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photographs | 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.