Bellanca 7GCAA accident near Big Sur, California, May 28, 1989
On May 28, 1989 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, registered N31277, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Sur, California. It was a personal 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 PILOT ELECTED TO ATTEMPT A TAKEOFF FROM A FIELD THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE A FORCED LANDING TO AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE ATTEMPT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH GRASS THAT BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE TAILWHEEL AND THE SOFT DOWNHILL TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1989 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Sur, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N31277 · no longer on the register · serial 251-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL ON A FRESHLY MOWED OPEN FIELD, THE TAILWHEEL BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE GRASS. THE TERRAIN WAS DOWNSLOPING, AND WITH THE SLOW AIRSPEED, THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LANDING THERE ON THE PREVIOUS DAY AND HAD THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY MOW THE GRASS IN ORDER TO FORM AN AIRSTRIP.
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: 395 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 323 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1988; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MRY Monterey CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.