Summary
On February 18, 1999, a Bellanca 7GCBC (N57468) was involved in an incident near Grand Rapids, MN. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout. A factor to the accident was the unmarked transmission wire.
On February 18, 1999, at 1430 central standard time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N57468, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage resulting from an in-flight collision with transmission wires while maneuvering over Prairie Lake, near Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight. The flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed Grand Rapids/Itasca County Gordon Newstrom Field, near Grand Rapids, Minnesota, at 1315, for a local flight.
According to the pilot's written statement, he was practicing a landing approach to the frozen lake.
This incident is documented in NTSB report CHI99LA098. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N57468.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's inadequate visual lookout. A factor to the accident was the unmarked transmission wire.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On February 18, 1999, at 1430 central standard time, a Bellanca 7GCBC, N57468, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage resulting from an in-flight collision with transmission wires while maneuvering over Prairie Lake, near Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight. The flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed Grand Rapids/Itasca County Gordon Newstrom Field, near Grand Rapids, Minnesota, at 1315, for a local flight.
According to the pilot's written statement, he was practicing a landing approach to the frozen lake. The pilot stated that on approach to the frozen lake he struck the unmarked transmission wires with his vertical stabilizer. The pilot stated that he retained control of the aircraft and landed on the frozen lake. The pilot did not report that any engine or flight control anomalies were present before the airplane contacted the transmission wires.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI99LA098