Bellanca 7ECA accident near King City, California, May 27, 1984
On May 27, 1984, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N2980F, was destroyed in an accident near King City, California (Mesa Del Ray airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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 27, 1984
- Place
- King City, California · Mesa Del Ray · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N2980F · no longer on the register · serial 1352-80
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RIGHT WING DRAGGED THE GROUND SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF; THE ACFT CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO REST AGAINST A TRACTOR. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE BEGAN A TURN AT 500 FT AGL AND THE ACFT ENTERED AN ACCELERATED STALL. A PASSENGER REPORTED THATTHE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AT 60-70 MPH AND AT 30-40 FT AGL THE PLT BEGAN A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN. THE PLT SAID HE WAS GOING100 MPH AND THE PREVAILING WINDS TURNED THE ACFT TO THE RIGHT AND CAUSED THE WING TO STRIKE THE GROUND.
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: 177 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 147 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 568 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 14, 1984; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-K2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rollings Hill Aviation
The flight
- Destination: LSN Los Banos CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,487 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.