Bellanca 7ECA accident near Dunsmuir, California, August 29, 1988
On August 29, 1988 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N5058K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dunsmuir, California (Dunsmuir airport). It was an instructional 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1988 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dunsmuir, California · Dunsmuir · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N5058K · registry record · serial 1320-79
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE GAINED JUST ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT TURNED UP A VALLEY TO GAIN ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE WAS GAINING ALTITUDE AT 150 FPM, HOWEVER, THE VALLEY TURNED INTO A BOX CANYON AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT AT A SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE TERRAIN. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS CALCULATED AS 7800 FT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,748 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1988; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 0Q3 Sonoma CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N5058K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.