Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Dumas, Arkansas, October 5, 1985
On October 5, 1985 at about 4:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N31272, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dumas, Arkansas (Unknown airport). 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 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 5, 1985 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Dumas, Arkansas · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N31272 · registry record · serial 406-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON LANDING AT A PVT SOD STRIP NEAR DUMAS, THE PLT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG CROSSWIND. THE CROSSWIND FORCED HIS ACFT TO VEER OFF THE SIDE OF THE RWY. AFTER VEERING OFF THE RWY THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE WING SPAR. REPORTED WINDS IN THE PINE BLUFF AREA WERE FM 310 DEGREES MAGNETIC AT 12 KNOTS. A WITNESS AT THE AIRSTRIP TOLD THE PLT THAT SEVERAL WHIRLWINDS HAD PRECEDED HIS LANDING. THE PINE BLUFF RPTING STATION IS 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF DUMAS.
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: 353 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 237 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 25, 1985; 301 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming P-360-C2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBF Pine Bluff AR at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Dumas AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from PBF, 25 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.