Bellanca 7ECA accident near Higginsville, Missouri, April 2, 1995
On April 2, 1995 at about 4:46 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N2598Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Higginsville, Missouri (Harbet airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the attempted takeoff. The gusty crosswind was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 2, 1995 · about 4:46 pm local time
- Place
- Higginsville, Missouri · Harbet · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N2598Z · no longer on the register · serial 1222-77
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS RUNWAY WITH A DIRECT 10 TO 12 KNOT CROSSWIND. HE STATED 'A GUST OF WIND PUT US AIRBORNE MUCH BEFORE I WAS READY TO BRING UP THE TAIL...BLEW US COMPLETELY OFF THE RUNWAY.' THE LANDING GEAR CAUGHT THE TOP STRAND OF A BARBED WIRE FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE PULLED UP ABOUT 1,000 FEET OF FENCE BEFORE THE AIRPLANE WAS PULLED BACK TO THE GROUND.
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: 876 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 876 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,533 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1994; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: N/A Warrensburg MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from SZL, 25 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.