ERA26LA005

Factual narrative

On October 4, 2025, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Bellanca, 7GCBC, N289PS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Reedville, Virginia. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was departing from a turf runway. The pilot recalled that he advanced the throttle for takeoff and the airplane traveling down the runway, but 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. The day 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. Several days later, the pilot reported that he had fainted during the takeoff attempt and that he was in the hospital for testing to try to determine why he may have lost consciousness. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Other loss of consciousness-Pilot
• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained