Bellanca 7GCBC N289PS

Summary

On 4 October 2025 at about 20:45 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N289PS was involved in an accident near Reedville, Virginia, 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

4 October 2025 at 20:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Reedville, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Federhart-Ophelia (VA99)

Coordinates

37.8298, -76.2747

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N289PS

Category

Airplane

Year built

1972

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

ERA26LA005

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s sudden incapacitation by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease during a takeoff attempt, which resulted in a loss of directional control and runway excursion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot recalled advancing the throttle for takeoff, but lost consciousness and could not recall anything that occurred after that point until a bystander helped him from the wreckage of the airplane. The airplane had impacted trees off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. After the accident, the pilot and a mechanic examined the airplane and found no evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident review of the pilot’s FAA medical certification history and his postaccident medical care records confirmed that the pilot had likely been incapacitated by an episode of abnormal heartbeat due to heart disease. At the time of the accident, the pilot did not hold current FAA medical certification. Although he had completed some requirements for BasicMed, his known medical history, which included multiple cardiovascular conditions, disqualified him from legally operating under BasicMed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.