Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Santa Rosa, California, September 2, 1995
On September 2, 1995 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N31266, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Rosa, California (Sonoma County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. The pilot's improper use of the brakes and the soft terrain were factors in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1995 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Rosa, California · Sonoma County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N31266 · registry record · serial 403-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A THREE-POINT LANDING NEAR THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN IT BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED THE RIGHT TURN AND GROUND LOOPED WHEN IT ENTERED THE SOFT TERRAIN NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES.
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: 121 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,778 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 20, 1995; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: United Flight Services, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: WVI Watsonville CA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: STS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,115 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:23 pm from STS
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.