N53866

On February 5, 1995, at 1507 hours Pacific standard time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N53866, nosed over after landing on runway 25L at the Long Beach Airport in Long Beach, California. The aircraft was operated by the Long Beach Flying Club and rented by the pilot for the flight. The aircraft sustained substantial damage and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and included winds from 210 degrees at 7 knots. The flight originated at the Long Beach airport on the day of the accident about 1410 as a local personal flight.

In his written report and oral statement to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel, the pilot reported that he had no recent flight experience within the last 90 days.

According to the pilot, he touched down on the right wheel first, then the left wheel. Soon afterwards, the aircraft veered to the right, then to the left, and continued left until it nosed over. The pilot estimated the speed at the time was about 10 to 15 miles per hour. He reported that the right tire was found positioned crossway on the rim and that the rim had cut into the asphalt several times. The skid marks were estimated to be 50 feet from the centerline of the runway to the aircraft.