Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Elbert, Colorado, September 5, 1994
On September 5, 1994 at about 7:55 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N8843, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elbert, Colorado (Kelly airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WINDS. A FACTOR WAS THE UNFAVORABLE VARIABLE WINDS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1994 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Elbert, Colorado · Kelly · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N8843 · no longer on the register · serial 474-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A DOWNWIND PATTERN ENTRY FOR A LANDING TO THE NORTH. THE WINDS WERE VARIABLE FROM THE SOUTH-SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS. DURING THE FINAL DESCENT RATE OF 500 FPM, THE PILOT ADDED BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL STICK TO ARREST THE DESCENT RATE. DURING THE HARD LANDING, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED DUE TO OVERLOAD AND THE RIGHT WING HIT THE GROUND. SUBSEQUENTLY THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED, SLID ABOUT 125 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST 25 FEET BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 695 hours in all; 22 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 636 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,669 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 1993; 177 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A-4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,800 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.