Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Arco, Idaho, December 13, 1992
On December 13, 1992 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N57659, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arco, Idaho. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A LEAKING CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL, AND SNOW ON THE LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 1992 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arco, Idaho · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N57659 · registry record · serial 624-74
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE BELLANCA 7GCBC MADE A SUCCESSFUL TOUCHDOWN ON A SNOW COVERED DIRT ROAD AFTER LOSING A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OIL FROM A LEAKING CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED SNOW APPROXIMATELY ONE FOOT DEEP.
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: 1,095 hours in all; 425 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,014 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1992; 155 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IDA Idaho Falls ID at 11:00 pm
- Destination: S67 Nampa ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 10°F (-12°C), dew point 9°F (-13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.