Bellanca 7ECA accident near Palo Alto, California, October 2, 1986
On October 2, 1986 at about 2:09 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N4178Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palo Alto, California (Palo Alto airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- October 2, 1986 · about 2:09 pm local time
- Place
- Palo Alto, California · Palo Alto · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N4178Y · no longer on the register · serial 1187-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND RAN OFF THE RWY. THE STUDENT PLT INDICATED THAT ON HIS FIRST APCH HIS ALTITUDE WAS TOO HIGH AND HE WAS ALIGNED TO THE LEFT OF THE RWY. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND AND MADE A SECOND ATTEMPT. DURING THE FLARE ON HIS SECOND APCH THE ACFT BEGAN TO DRIFT RIGHT. HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND TAIL WHEEL. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SKID RIGHT TO THE EDGE OF THE 65 FT WIDE RWY. THE PLT STATED, 'JUST AS LEAVING THE RUNWAY ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BY ADDING FULL POWER. CRASHED.' THE STUDENT PLT ALSO INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES/MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. WINDS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WERE REPORTED AS CALM.
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: student
- Flight time: 34 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 5 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,803 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 2, 1986; 40 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: PAO Palo Alto CA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 2,500 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:10 pm from PAO
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 N4178Y 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.