Bellanca 7ECA accident near Maple Lake, Minnesota, April 24, 1982
On April 24, 1982 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N53801, was destroyed in an accident near Maple Lake, Minnesota (Maple Lake 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1982 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Maple Lake, Minnesota · Maple Lake · 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
- N53801 · registry record · serial 1119-75
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING LANDING IN STRONG CROSSWIND CONDITIONS WITH GUSTS TO 22 KNOTS. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT CURRENTLY PROFICIENT IN CROSSWIND LANDING, SHOULD HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE TO LAND BUT HAD FRIENDS WAITING.
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: 206 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 144 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wings INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Anoka MN at 10:40 am
- Destination: Maple Lake MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 163°F (73°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:40 am from MPS
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.