Bellanca 7ECA accident near Merrimac, Wisconsin, May 1, 1988
On May 1, 1988 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N31288, was destroyed in an accident near Merrimac, Wisconsin (Private Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- May 1, 1988 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Merrimac, Wisconsin · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N31288 · no longer on the register · serial 889-73
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST TAKEN OFF FROM A PRIVATE STRIP AND IMMEDIATELY ENTERED A HIGH ANGLE OF BANK TURN TO THE LEFT AT LOW ALTITUDE. A WITNESS, WHO WAS AN EXPERIENCED AEROBATIC PILOT, ESTIMATED THE ANGLE OF BANK TO APPROACH 90 DEGREES. THE NOSE WAS SEEN TO PITCH DOWN, AND THE AIRPLANE DISAPPEARED BELOW THE TREE LINE. IMPACT WAS IN A FARMER'S FIELD ONE-QUARTER MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 1,048 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,913 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Waterloo Flying Club
The flight
- Destination: C29 Middleton WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from MSN, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.