Bellanca 7FC accident near Sedona, Arizona, June 2, 1991
On June 2, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7FC, registered N8527E, was destroyed in an accident near Sedona, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING AND ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A BERM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sedona, Arizona
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7FC · all 7FCs on the register
- Registration
- N8527E · no longer on the register · serial 336
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IN CLEAR SKY CONDITIONS HE CLIMBED TO 6,500 FEET MSL, AND THEN LEANED THE ENGINE'S MIXTURE. SUDDENLY, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH CARBURETOR ICE AND THE POWER LOSS EVENT WAS NOT CONSISTENT WITH CARBURETOR ICE. THE PILOT STATED THAT DESPITE ALL OF HIS EFFORTS HE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND DURING ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A BERM. THE POST-IMPACT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE FAILED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL REASON FOR THE ENGINE'S SUDDEN STOPPAGE.
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: 288 hours in all; 69 in this make and model
- 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: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90F (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cavu Flying Club
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 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.