Bellanca 7ECA accident near Attica, Indiana, March 19, 1987
On March 19, 1987 at about 1:30 am local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N5504L, was destroyed in an accident near Attica, Indiana. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- March 19, 1987 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Attica, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5504L · no longer on the register · serial 78-1263
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETING A CABLE PATROL FLT, THE PLT LANDED AT SULLIVAN, IN, TO REFUEL BEFORE STARTING A NIGHT FLT TO REPOSITION THE ACFT AT LAFAYETTE, IN. THE PLT DEPARTED IN CLEAR WX. HOWEVER, AS HE WAS ARRIVING AT LAFAYETTE, HE ADVISED THE TOWER CONTROLLER THAT 'IT LOOKS LIKE I GOT ON TOP OF A LITTLE CLOUD DECK HERE.' THE PLT WAS ADVISED THE ARPT WX WAS 1200' BROKEN, 2600' OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 7 MI WITH LIGHT RAIN. HE REQUESTED A RADAR VECTOR TO THE ARPT. HOWEVER, AS THE TOWER CONTROLLER WAS COORDINATING WITH APCH CONTROL TO IDENTIFY THE ACFT'S POSITION, CONTACT WITH THE ACFT WAS LOST. A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. DRG THE INVESTIGATION, NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THE ENG WAS PROVIDING POWER AT IMPACT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 560 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 395 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SIV Sullivan IN
- Destination: LAF Lafayette IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 am from LAF, 23 miles away
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.