Bellanca 7ECA accident near Redlands, California, April 28, 1991
On April 28, 1991 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N53782, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redlands, California (Redlands 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
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 28, 1991 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Redlands, California · Redlands · 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
- N53782 · no longer on the register · serial 1117-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF A BELLANCA 7ECA SAID HE MADE TWO LOCAL FLIGHTS WITH NO PROBLEMS, AND NO WINDS. AFTER RETURNING FROM THE THIRD LOCAL FLIGHT, UNICOM REPORTED CALM WINDS. HE STATED THAT ON LANDING THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. ON LANDING ROLL HE SAID HE ENCOUNTERED A CROSSWIND OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS FROM THE SOUTH, WHICH STARTED TO LIFT THE LEFT WING. THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT SAID HE ATTEMPTED TO GO-AROUND BUT THE RIGHT WING HIT 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: 77 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-CI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 205° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.