Bellanca 7ECA accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 2, 1989
On May 2, 1989 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N9121L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Colorado 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL. VARIABLE AND GUSTING WINDS ARE CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1989 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Colorado · 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
- N9121L · no longer on the register · serial 802-71
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PLT WAS COMPLETING A X-COUNTRY FLT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE SAID THAT HE HAD TO SWITCH RUNWAYS BECAUSE OF GUSTING AND VARIABLE WINDS. HE SELECTED RWY 21, A 3,100 X 40 FT ASPHALT RWY. THE TOUCHDOWN SEEMED NORMAL BUT THE PLT SAID HE HAD TO USE FULL RIGHT RUDDER THEN FULL LEFT RUDDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PLT SAID THAT A SUDDEN GUST FROM THE LEFT AND REAR OF THE ACFT BLEW DUST AND WEEDS ACROSS THE RWY AND LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY.
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: 341 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,776 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rainbow Aero INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SAF Sante Fe NM at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 4AC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.