Cessna 172C and Bellanca 7GCBC mid-air collision near Amarillo, Texas, November 27, 1986
On November 27, 1986 at about 10:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172C (N7709U) and Bellanca 7GCBC (N5508J), were involved in a mid-air collision near Amarillo, Texas (Bufallo airport). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 27, 1986 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Amarillo, Texas · Bufallo · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N7709U · no longer on the register · serial 17251709
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5508J · registry record · serial 1048-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172C final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 172 ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THE UNCONTROLLED APRT FOR LANDING TO THE NORTH. THE PLT NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT DEPARTING TO THE SOUTH AND MADE THE DECISION TO RE-ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A SOUTH LANDING USING A RIGHT HAND PATTERN. THE CESSNA TURNED FINAL APRX 1/4 MILE FROM THE RWY AND CONTINUED THE APCH. AT APRX 15 TO 25 FT AGL THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE CITABRIA WHICH TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH WHEN THE CESSNA INITIALLY ENTERED THE PATTERN. THE PLT OF THE CITABRIA FAILED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION WITH THE SECOND ACFT.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Bellanca 7GCBC final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED STU PLT OF THE CITABRIA WAS MAKING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH FLYING A LEFT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE BASE TO FINAL TURN WAS MADE APRX 1/4 MILE FROM THE RWY IN FRONT OF A CESSNA 172 WHICH WAS ALREADY ON FINAL. THE ACFT COLLIDED APRX 15 TO 25 FT AGL. THE PLT WAS DEMONSTRATING LANDINGS TO HIS FATHER AND DAUGHTER AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TOUCHDOWN NEAR HIS FATHER'S CAR WHICH RESULTING IN A DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION. THE PLT HAD NOT BEEN ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLT.
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 for the Cessna 172C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 515 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 92 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,171 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1986; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:47 pm from AMA, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Bellanca 7GCBC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 89 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1985; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 FTW87FA022.