Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Bedford, New Hampshire, June 19, 1992
On June 19, 1992 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N8736V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bedford, New Hampshire. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT AS THE RESULT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, RESULTING IN HIS FAILURE OR INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S POOR JUDGEMENT IN BUZZING RESIDENCES AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE ALTITUDE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1992 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Bedford, New Hampshire
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N8736V · no longer on the register · serial 847-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PASSENGER SAID THEY WERE FLYING OVER AN AREA WHERE SOME OF THE PILOT'S FRIENDS LIVED. THEY WERE FLYING FAIRLY LOW, DOING DESCENTS AND PULL-UPS. AT ONE POINT, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A STEEP BANK AND DESCENT. THE PASSENGER EXPECTED THE PILOT TO PULL UP AGAIN, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED THE DESCENT UNTIL IT STRUCK THE TREES. THE PILOT'S TOXICOLOGY RESULT INDICATED A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 400 MG/DL. THE CONSULTING PHYSICIAN REPORTED '... AS SUDDEN INCREASE TO THAT LEVEL IN A PERSON NOT USED TO THAT LEVEL WOULD PRODUCE COMA.'
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 938 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 814 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1992; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ASH Nashua NH at 10:00 pm
- Destination: ASH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.