Bellanca 7GCAA accident near Waipahu,Oahu, Hawaii, May 20, 1984
On May 20, 1984 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, registered N4166Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waipahu,Oahu, Hawaii. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- May 20, 1984 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Waipahu,Oahu, Hawaii · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N4166Y · no longer on the register · serial 33577
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI GAVE THE STUDENT A SIMULATED FORCED LANDING AND THE STUDENT SPIRALED DOWN TO 400 FT AGL. WHEN THE CFI SAID 'I'VEGOT THE AIRPLANE' THE ACFT NOSE CAME UP AND THE ACFT STARTED TO SETTLE. THE CFI STATED HE APPLIED POWER BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE, STALLING INTO A SUGAR CANE FIELD. THE CFI BLAMED THE ACCIDENT ON THE SLOW RESPONSE OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS FUNCTIONALLY CHECKED AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 13,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 527 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 1983; 107 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: HNL Honolulu HI at 9:00 pm
- Destination: HNL Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.