Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Reedville, Virginia, October 4, 2025
On October 4, 2025 at about 8:45 pm local time, a 1972 Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N289PS, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Reedville, Virginia (Federhart-Ophelia airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s sudden incapacitation by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 4, 2025 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Reedville, Virginia · Federhart-Ophelia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC, built 1972 · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N289PS · registry record · serial 370-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot recalled advancing the throttle for takeoff, but lost consciousness and could not recall anything that occurred after that point until a bystander helped him from the wreckage of the airplane. The airplane had impacted trees off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. After the accident, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident review of the pilot’s FAA medical certification history and his postaccident medical care records confirmed that the pilot had likely been incapacitated by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease. At the time of the accident, the pilot did not hold current FAA medical certification. Although he had completed some requirements for BasicMed, his known medical history, which included multiple cardiovascular conditions, disqualified him from legally operating under BasicMed.
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
- Medical event during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Other loss of consciousness › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,845 hours in all; 1,422 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 18, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,722 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2025; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 1,820 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 3026.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from NUI, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA005.