Bellanca 7GCBC accident near Columbus, Montana, September 9, 1997
On September 9, 1997 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, registered N5500L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Montana. 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 passenger failed to maintain clearance from the power line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1997 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Montana
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7GCBC · all 7GCBCs on the register
- Registration
- N5500L · registry record · serial 1032-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a power line while engaged in low flying, and the pilots made a precautionary landing in a wheat field adjacent to the power lines. The pilot in the rear seat stated that he was flying the airplane, which had just been purchased by the pilot in the front seat. The rear seat pilot, who was also an aircraft mechanic, did not meet flight currency requirements and had not had a medical exam since 1992. The front seat pilot was not aware of the other pilot's medical status or lack of currency.
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: 2,200 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 14 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIL Billings MT at 3:30 pm
- Destination: Spokane WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.