Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Kaycee, Wyoming, September 28, 1991
On September 28, 1991, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N5505H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kaycee, Wyoming. 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
INADEQUATE CLEARANCE WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN PROPER ASSISTANCE FOR THE TAKEOFF. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE 1) THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, 2) THE VEHICLE, AND 3) HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1991
- Place
- Kaycee, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5505H · registry record · serial 1038-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING ON A PAVED ROAD, THE PILOT SECURED THE AID OF A RANCHER TO ASSIST IN TAKEOFF. HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE CONDITIONS EXISTED AT THE TIME WHICH REDUCED THE AIRCRAFT'S TAKEOFF PERFORMANCE. THE PILOT DID NOT ESTABLISH CLEAR PROCEDURES WITH THE RANCHER TO INSURE THAT THE ROADWAY WOULD BE CLEAR FOR A SUFFICIENT LENGTH FOR TAKEOFF. NOR DID HE ESTABLISH CLEAR COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES TO BE USED PRIOR TO THE TAKEOFF EVOLUTION. THE PILOT OBSERVED A HAND SIGNAL FROM THE RANCHER WHICH HE PERCEIVED TO BE A GO AHEAD FOR HIS DEPARTURE AND DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL HE ENCOUNTERED A VEHICLE DRAWN TRAILER ON THE ROAD IN HIS GROUND PATH. HE ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB AND TURN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND THEN MANEUVER AWAY FROM TERRAIN, HOWEVER, ADEQUATE CLEARANCE WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO INSURE THE AIRCRAFT WOULD CLEAR THE TRAILER. THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WINGTIP IMPACTED THE TRAILER AND A LOSS OF CONTROL AND GROUND COLLISION FOLLOWED.
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
- Flight time: 874 hours in all; 498 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 874 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: GCC Gillette WY at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 090° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:54 pm from CPR, 51 miles away
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.