Bellanca 7ECA accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1988
On November 25, 1988 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Bellanca 7ECA, registered N8572V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Erwinna, Pennsylvania. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO A POWER LOSS CAUSED BY CARBURETOR ICING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 25, 1988 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Erwinna, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · all 7ECAs on the register
- Registration
- N8572V · registry record · serial 1073-75
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING A FORCED LANDING AND WHEN POWER WAS APPLIED FOR A GO-AROUND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE PRIVATE PILOT UNDER INSTRUCTION AND GUIDED THE AIRCRAFT TO A FORCED LANDING IN A TREE LINE. POST CRASH EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DISCLOSED THE CARBURETOR AND CARBURETOR HEAT BOX WERE COVERED WITH WATER DROPLETS AND WATER WAS ON THE LOWER COWLING.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,755 hours in all; 145 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 542 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,687 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1988; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: County Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 9N1 Erwinna PA at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.