Accident Details
On May 14, 2012, at approximately 1630 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, registration N68543, departed the right side of runway 15 and struck a ditch at Captain Jack Thomas Airport (KEQA) in El Dorado, Kansas. The airplane was operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight had originated from Benton (K1K1), Kansas, around 1545.
According to the pilot, he was performing a full-stall landing to the south, with an east-to-west wind. Upon touchdown, he lost directional control, causing the airplane to exit the runway to the right and enter a deep ditch. The right main landing gear separated from the airframe, and the right wing sustained damage when it impacted the embankment. The pilot reported no preexisting mechanical issues with the airplane.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a total flight experience of 1,900 hours, including 600 hours in single-engine airplanes. However, he had logged only 1 hour in the Bellanca 7GCAA. He recommended that additional training in the airplane and increased proficiency could help prevent similar occurrences.
Aircraft Examination
An examination of the airplane and its systems revealed no anomalies, confirming that no mechanical malfunction contributed to the accident.