Bellanca 7GCBC N57517

Summary

On 11 November 2020 at about 17:50 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N57517 was involved in an accident near Fallbrook, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 November 2020 at 17:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Fallbrook, California, United States

Nearest airport

Fallbrook Airpark (L18)

Coordinates

33.3558, -117.2514

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N57517

Category

Airplane

Year built

1973

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA052

1 person had minor injuries.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined with the available evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the initial takeoff climb, between 400 and 600 ft above ground level, the engine started to sputter, and the airplane began to lose lift. The pilot declared an emergency and executed a forced landing back to the runway. The airplane landed hard and fast with about 1/3 of the runway remaining. The pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it ran off the runway and down a 50-ft embankment. A postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined with the available evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.