Bellanca 7ECA accident near Friendswood, Texas, March 1, 1991
On March 1, 1991 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N5524K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Friendswood, Texas (Clover Field). It was an instructional 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
THE DUEL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING AND HIS INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE BRAKES. A FACTOR WAS THE DITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1991 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Friendswood, Texas · Clover Field · 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
- N5524K · no longer on the register · serial 1254-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE DUAL STUDENT, WHO HAD 2.4 HOURS CONVENTIONAL GEAR TIME, WAS RIDING THE BRAKES WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN DURING PRACTICE CROSS WIND TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE AIRPLANE COCKED INTO THE WIND AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, STRAIGHTENED IT OUT, AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A WATER FILLED DITCH AND NOSED OVER PRIOR TO GETTING AIRBORNE. THE STUDENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR BOTH FELT THE STUDENT WAS RIDING THE BRAKES DURING THE ATTEMPTED ABORT. THE LANDING WAS MADE WITH A 70 DEGREE LEFT CROSS WIND, REPORTEDLY BLOWING AT 8 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 12 KNOTS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,253 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 6,503 as pilot in command; 2,850 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,157 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 23, 1990; 73 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 4,300 ft by 70 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.