Bellanca 7KCAB accident near South Wales, New York, March 1, 1996
On March 1, 1996 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7KCAB, registered N7807S, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Wales, New York (South Wales 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 pilot's improper flare and failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1996 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- South Wales, New York · South Wales · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N7807S · registry record · serial 584-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had practiced two takeoffs and landings at his base airstrip, then departed the pattern and flew to another airstrip for five touch-and-go landings. He then flew back to his base airstrip and established the airplane on an approach to runway 29. The pilot stated that while on final approach, the airplane's angle of descent was low, and he added power to maintain altitude. After clearing the trees at the end of the runway, he then leveled the nose for a short field landing. The pilot stated that the airplane did not respond and he 'pulled the stick full aft and made a hard landing.' After landing, the airplane veered right, and the right wing struck trees along the side of the runway. The pilot estimated that the winds were from 300 degrees at 22 knots, gusting to 25. The sod strip was about 4,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and surrounded by 75-foot high trees on all sides.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,056 hours in all; 338 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,056 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 520 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1995; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-320-E2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 22 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.