Bellanca 7EA accident near Venice, Florida, August 25, 1991
On August 25, 1991 at about 11:43 am local time, a Bellanca 7EA, registered N41689, was substantially damaged in an accident near Venice, Florida (Venice Muni airport). 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 PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE ON TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL DUE TO HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND FLIGHT TIME IN THIS TYPE OF AIRPLANE. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IS AN ON-GROUND ENCOUNTER WITH A CROSSWIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1991 · about 11:43 am local time
- Place
- Venice, Florida · Venice Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7EA · all 7EAs on the register
- Registration
- N41689 · no longer on the register · serial 978-73
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, WHO HAD RECENTLY CHECKED OUT IN CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANES, WAS ON TAKEOFF ROLL IN A SLIGHT CROSSWIND. HE STATED THAT AS HE LIFTED THE TAILWHEEL HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, LEFT THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 920 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,046 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 19, 1991; 3 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 22, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:48 am from SRQ, 27 miles away
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.