Bellanca 7ECA accident near Algonquin, Illinois, September 3, 1991
On September 3, 1991, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N5035J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Algonquin, Illinois (Unk airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DUE TO A HEART ATTACK.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 1991
- Place
- Algonquin, Illinois · Unk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5035J · registry record · serial 1285-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE, FLOWN BY A NON PILOT PASSENGER, COLLIDED WITH CROPS AND NOSED OVER DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT AT A PRIVATE LANDING STRIP. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE PRIVATE LANDING STRIP AND THE PASSENGER ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE PILOT/OWNER BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND SLUMPED OVER THE CONTROLS DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE PASSENGER MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:45 pm from DPA, 18 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.