Accident Details
On February 9, 2019, at approximately 1039 Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7GCAA airplane, registration N11666, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watsonville, California. The flight instructor and private pilot onboard sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The instructor reported that the flight's purpose was to conduct a flight review for the private pilot. They departed Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) and proceeded southwest toward the coast before establishing a left downwind leg for a simulated emergency landing to runway 28 at Monterey Bay Academy Airport (CA66). Due to recent rain, they did not plan to land on the grass runway. The instructor stated that during the turn from base to final, "everything looked good" and the pilot initiated a go-around as planned. The instructor further noted that the engine was running and producing power throughout the approach; however, he did not recall the accident sequence.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the airplane came to rest in an upright, nose-down position about 420 feet short of the approach end of runway 28, and about 25 feet to the right of the runway. The airplane impacted terrain in a steep nose-down attitude and displayed some rotational signatures.
Aircraft and Examination
Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Weather Conditions
Review of the weather conditions revealed a trough of low pressure extended along the California coast in the immediate vicinity west of the accident site, with a general weak pressure gradient over the Watsonville area. The closest weather reporting location, about 3 nautical miles away, reported calm winds. A sounding model depicted a light southerly surface wind from 160° at 4 knots with no significant low-level wind shear or turbulence below 1,000 feet at the accident site.