Event BFO88LA069

1988-07-24 WINDSOR, Virginia, United States Airport · 3VA8 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N31253

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

BELLANCA 7GCAA

Year of manufacture

1972 · 16 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19721020

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A35162

Registrant of record

WILLKRIS AVIATION SERVICES LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N31253 Bellanca 7GCAA None

Factual narrative

WHILE ON LONG FINAL AFTER A GLIDER TOW FLIGHT THE ENG LOST POWER. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD AND WHEN THE PLT APPLIED BRAKES, THE ACFT NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED 1 GALLON OF FUEL REMAINED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE INITIATED THE FLT WITH 3 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE ACFT OPERATOR STATED IT WAS STANDARD PROCEDURE FOR THE TOW ACFT TO TAKEOFF WITH THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD TO COMPLETE THE FLIGHT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1988_BFO88LA069.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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