Bellanca 7ECA accident near La Crosse, Wisconsin, April 27, 1992
On April 27, 1992 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N53988, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Crosse, Wisconsin. It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
VISUAL LOOKOUT INADEQUATE AND DIVERTED ATTENTION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS TRANSMISSION WIRES CROSSING FLIGHT PATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 1992 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N53988 · registry record · serial 1161-76
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID WHILE FLYING A POWERLINE PATROL, HIS ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED AND HE COLLIDED WITH INTERSECTING POWER LINES. THE ACFT STRUCK THE TERRAIN AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL AIRFRAME AND WING DAMAGE.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,162 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 222 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 4,093 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,740 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1991; 642 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Burnett County Flying
The flight
- Departed from: RZN Siren WI at 12:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.