Bellanca 7GCBC accident near North Plains, Oregon, August 5, 1987
On August 5, 1987 at about 7:17 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N222WY, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Plains, Oregon (Sunset airport). It was an other work-use 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
- August 5, 1987 · about 7:17 pm local time
- Place
- North Plains, Oregon · Sunset
- 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
- N222WY · registry record · serial 376-72
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT DRG A X-WIND LNDG, THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RGT MAIN GEAR, THEN AFTER ROLLING APRX 50 TO 100 FT, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN. AS THE LEFT WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, THE LEFT AXLE FAILED, PITCHING THE ACFT ON ITS NOSE. THE ACFT THEN SKIDDED ON ITS NOSE FOR ANOTHER 75 TO 100 FT. AN EXAM OF THE AXLE REVEALED A FATIGUE CRACK HAD PENETRATED ABOUT 50% OF ITS CROSS SECTION BEFORE FINAL OVERSTRESS SEPARATION. THERE WERE MULTIPLE ORIGINS OF THE CRACK AT THE EDGE OF A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,376 hours in all; 402 in this make and model; 133 in the last 90 days; 2,243 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,630 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 10R3
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N222WY the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.