Bellanca 7ECA accident near Julian, California, August 4, 1984
On August 4, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N5516K, was destroyed in an accident near Julian, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Julian, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5516K · no longer on the register · serial 1252-78
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF SEVERAL 360 DEG CLIMBING TURNS WERE MADE TO GAIN ALT TO CLEAR THE MOUNTAIN RIDGE. THE RIDGE WAS APPROACHED AT 4800 FT MSL WITH THE PLT EXPECTING A THERMAL LIFT OVER THE 5500 FT LEVEL WHICH HAD BEEN ENCOUNTERED MANY TIMES BEFORE. AT 4800 FT MSL THE SECOND PLT STATED 'WE AREN'T GOING TO MAKE IT.' THE NOSE OF THE ACFT PITCHED DOWN AND BEFORE REMEDIAL ACTION COULD BE TAKEN, THE ACFT ENTERED A 2000 FPM VERTICLE DESCENT CONTACTING THE 4100 FT MSL TERRAIN AT 53 MPH. THE OAT ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 108 DEGS F.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 590 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,364 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1984; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L08 Borrego Springs CA at 10:15 pm
- Destination: SEE El Cajon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from SEE, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.