Bellanca 7GCAA accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, October 6, 2007
On October 6, 2007 at about 2:25 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, registered N8642V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania (New Garden Airport). It was a glider-towing 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 reason for this accident is undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2007 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania · New Garden Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N8642V · no longer on the register · serial 313-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the airplane initiated the takeoff roll with a glider in tow, the tailwheel of the airplane began to shimmy. The airplane continued to gain speed straight down the runway with the tailwheel shimmying for about 100 feet. The airplane then veered right, and the glider pilot released the towrope and continued straight down the runway. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway onto grass with the tailwheel on the ground. The airplane then became airborne, initiated a steep climb to avoid trees, and then entered an aerodynamic stall before impacting the ground in a near vertical attitude. Due to extensive impact and postcrash fire damage, no conclusive determinations on the airworthiness of the airplane could be made.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,344 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: December 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,177 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: N57 Toughkenamon PA at 2:27 pm
- Destination: N57
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,695 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 2:27 pm from ILG, 13 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.