Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Woodfords, California, June 14, 2005
On June 14, 2005 at about 6:39 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N8634, was substantially damaged in an accident near Woodfords, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while turning in strong wind conditions, which resulted in a stall/spin. A factor in the accident was the high density altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2005 · about 6:39 pm local time
- Place
- Woodfords, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N8634 · no longer on the register · serial 460-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane stalled and descended to ground impact while turning in high wind conditions close to the ground. One witness said that the airplane was flying directly into the strong winds that were out of the southwest at 25 to 30 knots. He believed the airplane's ground speed was in the 40-knot range as it appeared to be following a road at about 200 feet above ground level (agl). The airplane began a left turn with a gentle bank that increased slowly to around 45 degrees of bank. As the aircraft reached about 100 degrees of turn, it started to drop. As the turn continued, the aircraft's tail began yawing back and forth as the right wing continued to drop. The aircraft then descended into the trees at a 45-degree nose down attitude. Based on temperatures, elevations, and station pressures of nearby weather reporting facilities, the density altitude was computed to be around 7,300 feet. Examination of the wreckage by FAA inspectors found no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airframe or engine.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,010 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,905 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CXP Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KRNO
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 N8634 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.