Bellanca 7ECA accident near Eden Prairie, Minnesota, October 27, 2006
On October 27, 2006 at about 6:51 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N57410, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eden Prairie, Minnesota (Flying Cloud airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining directional control of the tailwheel airplane during the landing roll. A factor was the runway sign that was impacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2006 · about 6:51 pm local time
- Place
- Eden Prairie, Minnesota · Flying Cloud · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N57410 · registry record · serial 941-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tailwheel airplane sustained substantial damage when it exited the runway and impacted a runway sign. The pilot stated, "Set up for a wheel landing left wing low to compensate for crosswind. Encountered a slight bounce. When wheels touched down again, aircraft swerved left [and] towards edge of [runway]. I did not feel attempting a go-around at that point was prudent due to proximity to wind sock pole. Left runway, rolled through grass [and] onto [runway] 18. I understand a [runway] sign was hit [with horizontal stabilizer]." The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane in reference to the accident flight.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 201 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 150 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,989 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hummingbird Aviation, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: FCM Eden Prairie MN at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28R, 3,599 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from FCM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.