Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Telluride, Colorado, September 14, 1997
On September 14, 1997 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N86708, was destroyed in an accident near Telluride, Colorado (Telluride Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while climbing after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and collision with terrain. Factors relating to the accident included: the pilot allowing the maximum gross weight limit of the airplane to be exceeded, the high density altitude, and the pilot's intentional steep climb after takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1997 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Telluride, Colorado · Telluride Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N86708 · no longer on the register · serial 653-74
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After the airplane took off, various witnesses reported seeing it in a nose high attitude, at low airspeed, and with the wings 'wobbling.' One pilot-witness said the airplane stalled and spun once. The pilot had been admonished for regularly making soft-field takeoffs; that is, holding full aft control stick, lifting off in a nose high attitude, and then 'climb at a steep angle of attack.' His son, a student pilot, who was in the front seat, had previously expressed his apprehension in using this takeoff technique, especially in high density altitude conditions. At the time of the accident, the airplane was determined to be 219 pounds over the maximum certificated gross weight. Density altitude was computed to be 10,920 feet.
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; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,421 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1997; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TEX at 10:15 pm
- Destination: GJT Grand Junction CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,870 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 pm from TEX, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.