Bellanca 7ECA accident near Santa Paula, California, February 18, 2013
On February 18, 2013 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N50380, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Santa Paula, California (Santa Paula 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 failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 18, 2013 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Paula, California · Santa Paula Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N50380 · registry record · serial 1291-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that after touchdown in the tail wheel-equipped airplane, the airplane began to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake but was unable to keep the airplane on the runway. The airplane departed the side of the runway and subsequently impacted a building, wrinkling and bending the left wing and the left elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Airport structure › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 912 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 822 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 23, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,341 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: C P Aviation Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: SZP Santa Paula CA at 5:20 pm
- Destination: SZP Santa Paula CA
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 04, 2,713 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from CMA, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on March 13, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.