Bellanca 7GCAA accident near Sutcliffe, Nevada, May 14, 1988
On May 14, 1988 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, registered N57415, was destroyed in an accident near Sutcliffe, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- May 14, 1988 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Sutcliffe, Nevada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N57415 · no longer on the register · serial 261-73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO EXECUTE SEVERAL LOW PASSES OVER WITNESSES ALONG THE SHORELINE OF A LAKE. DURING ONE OF THE PASSES AND WHILE TRACKING NORTHWEST, THE PILOT DROPPED A PACKAGE OF LIFE PRESERVERS FROM AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 75 FEET AGL AND WHILE FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE PILOT EXECUTED A LEFT TURN. DURING THE TURN THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND DESCENT TO GROUND IMPACT FOLLOWED. THE WITNESS REPORTED WINDS OF 7-10 MPH OUT OF THE WEST AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL REPORTED NORTHERLY WINDS AT 15-20 MPH AND GUSTING. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 5500 FEET MSL. THE PILOT'S FLT TIME WAS OBTAINED FROM HIS FAA MEDICAL RECORDS.
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
- Flight time: 375 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD Reno NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from RNO, 26 miles away
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.