Bellanca 8GCBC accident near Williams, California, June 17, 2003
On June 17, 2003 at about 2:00 am local time, a Bellanca 8GCBC, registered N2558Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Williams, California (Williams airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power on takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2003 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Williams, California · Williams · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 8GCBC · all 8GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N2558Z · no longer on the register · serial 26278
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane force landed in a rice field after a partial loss of engine power in the takeoff initial climb. The pilot was departing from a private gliderport on a pipeline patrol fight. During the initial climb out, at an altitude about 200 feet agl, the engine started to run very rough. The pilot attempted to return to the airport runway but realized he did not have sufficient altitude to do so. The airplane crash-landed in a swampy rice field located north of the departure end of the runway. During the accident sequence, the landing gear and both wings were torn off the airplane. Following recovery of the airplane, the engine was started and test run while it was still attached to the airframe. No malfunctions or failures were found with the engine or any related airframe system.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 10,350 hours in all; 1,551 in this make and model; 322 in the last 90 days; 67 in the last 30 days; 10,210 as pilot in command; 49 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 20, 2003; 76 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q12 Williams CA at 2:00 am
- Destination: VCB Vacaville CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from KMYV, 30 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.
Other NTSB records under N2558Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.