Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Wildwood, New Jersey, July 6, 2000
On July 6, 2000 at about 6:40 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N10989, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wildwood, New Jersey (Cape May County 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).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an improper flare by the pilot which induced an overload failure on the left side landing gear bolts. Factors were the corrosion on the bolts, and the failure of the operator to change the u-bolt in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2000 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Wildwood, New Jersey · Cape May County Airport
- 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
- N10989 · registry record · serial 334-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing roll, the airplane's left main landing gear started to wobble and ultimately separated from the fuselage. The failed landing gear section was held in place with a through bolt near the center of the fuselage, and a u-bolt where the landing gear exited the fuselage. Examination of the failed bolts revealed corrosion pitting and the bolts had failed by overload. According to the airplane owner, the bolts had been in place for 20 years and had accumulated 580 hours. The manufacturer recommended replacement of the bolts when they had accumulated 500 hours, but did not list a calendar time for replacement. Additionally, there was no regulatory requirement for the owner to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 33,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 980 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 1999; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DE25 Milton DE at 6:15 pm
- Destination: WWD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 4,998 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:35 pm from WWD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number NYC00LA187.