Bellanca 7GCBC CITABRIA accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts, December 10, 1983
On December 10, 1983 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC CITABRIA, registered N5041N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nantucket, Massachusetts. 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 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
- December 10, 1983 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nantucket, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC CITABRIA 7GCBC CITA · all 7GCBC CITABRIAs on the register
- Registration
- N5041N · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS AND CRASHED DURING A LOW PASS TO OBSERVE AN OBJECT ON THE GROUND. THE FLT HAD DEPARTEDNANTUCKET AND FLOWN OVER TO TUCKERNUCK ISL WHERE A DESCENT WAS MADE TO OBSERVE AN UNUSUAL OBJECT ON A SHOAL. CARBURETOR HEAT WAS APPLIED AND THE THROTTLE CLOSED. AFTER DESCENDING TO 160 FT FLAPS WERE ADDED TO SLOW THE ACFT. WHEN THE OBJECT WAS SIGHTED POWER WAS APPLIED BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. AT THIS TIME THE PLT PLANNED TO LAND ON THE SHOAL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE ENG. THE PLT WORKED THE THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE ENGINE IN A NEAR STALL ATTITUDE THE ENGINE FIRED AND WENT TO HIGH RPM TORQUE ROLLING THE ACFT TO THE LEFT. THE PLT AGAIN CLOSED THE THROTTLE AND USED FULL FORWARD ELEVATOR RIGHT AILERON AND RUDDER. THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND WITH LEFT WING THEN THE LEFT MAIN GEAR AND NOSE GEAR. THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,076 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 961 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 356 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ACK Nantucket MA at 11:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.