Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Modesto, California, February 12, 1995
On February 12, 1995 at about 6:46 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N53972, was destroyed in an accident near Modesto, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 1995 · about 6:46 pm local time
- Place
- Modesto, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N53972 · no longer on the register · serial 914-76
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROACHING A POWER LINE AT LOW ALTITUDE, IT ENTERED AN ABRUPT CLIMBING ATTITUDE. AT THE APEX OF THE CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING WENT DOWN, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE GOING DOWN. THE AIRPLANE THEN CRASHED IN A STEEP DESCENT. A POSTACCIDENT WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO PREEXISTING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PILOT HAD A PREVIOUS MEDICAL HISTORY OF A MYOCARDIUM INFARCTION, COLON CANCER, AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. HOWEVER, HE HAD RECEIVED A MEDICAL EXEMPTION FROM THE FAA MEDICAL ADVISORY PANEL ON 11/12/93. ALSO, A PATHOLOGICAL EXAM REVEALED THAT DURING IMPACT, THE PILOT RECEIVED COMPOUND FRACTURES OF THE UPPER EXTREMITIES THAT SUGGESTED HIS HANDS WERE HOLDING SOMETHING IN FRONT OF HIS BODY AND NOT HANGING LOOSE AT HIS SIDES OR IN HIS LAP.
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: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,462 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Turlock CA at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:46 pm from MOD, 15 miles away
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.