Bellanca 7GCAA accident near Thomas, Oklahoma, June 4, 1986
On June 4, 1986 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, registered N8580V, was destroyed in an accident near Thomas, Oklahoma (Thomas airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 1986 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Thomas, Oklahoma · Thomas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N8580V · no longer on the register · serial 310-75
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 200 FT AGL, THE PLT ATTEMPTED A SNAP-ROLL. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER AFTER THE INTENDED 1 ROLL AND THE MANEUVER CONTINUED FOR 1 1/2 ROLLS. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO LEVEL THE WINGS BUT THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ACFT THEN BOUNCED INTO THE AIR AND CONTACTED THE GROUND A SECOND TIME IN A TAIL DOWN ATTITUDE WHICH RESULTED IN THE ACFT FLIPPING OVER BACKWARD.
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
- Flight time: 367 hours in all; 154 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 312 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 265 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: F68 Anadarko OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from OKC, 75 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.