Bellanca 7GCAA accident near Leland, Mississippi, May 23, 1990
On May 23, 1990 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCAA, registered N8739, was substantially damaged in an accident near Leland, Mississippi (Edwards Field). It was a personal 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
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE POWER LINES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 1990 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Leland, Mississippi · Edwards Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCAA · all 7GCAAs on the register
- Registration
- N8739 · registry record · serial 256-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE CIRCLED THE UNFAMILIAR ARPT TO OBSERVE THE WINDSOCK, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTH. AFTER ENTERING THE PATTERN TO LAND ON RWY 36, HE OBSERVED POWER LINE POLES LOCATED AT THE APCH END OF THE RWY, BUT DID NOT SEE THE UNMARKED POWERLINES. WHILE ON FINAL APCH AT AN ALT OF ABOUT 30 FT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A POWERLINE, THEN IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE PLT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS EXPIRED.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,341 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,320 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M76 Monticello AR at 4:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,400 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:47 pm from GWO, 43 miles away
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.
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.