Summary
On April 02, 1995, a Bellanca 7ECA (N2598Z) was involved in an accident near Higginsville, MO. The accident resulted in 2 serious injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the attempted takeoff. The gusty crosswind was a factor.
On April 2, 1995, at 1146 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N2598Z, piloted by the owner/operator, crashed during an aborted takeoff at a private grass airstrip in Higginsville, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck a barbed wire fence, then impacted terrain. The private pilot and the one passenger on board the airplane received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed. The pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and the accident occurred during the intended takeoff.
The pilot reported he attempted to takeoff from the 2,300' X 100' grass runway with a direct crosswind which he estimate to be 10 to 12 knots.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI95LA113. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2598Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the attempted takeoff. The gusty crosswind was a factor.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 2, 1995, at 1146 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N2598Z, piloted by the owner/operator, crashed during an aborted takeoff at a private grass airstrip in Higginsville, Missouri. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck a barbed wire fence, then impacted terrain. The private pilot and the one passenger on board the airplane received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, no flight plan was filed. The pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and the accident occurred during the intended takeoff.
The pilot reported he attempted to takeoff from the 2,300' X 100' grass runway with a direct crosswind which he estimate to be 10 to 12 knots. He stated "...a gust of wind put us airborne much before I was ready to bring up the tail. The wind gust blew us completely off the runway. Unknowingly, as I was attempting to get back to the runway, I picked up the top strand of barbed wire...I pulled up about 1,000 feet of fence before it stopped my flight and caused the plane to crash onto the runway." The pilot stated the accident could have been prevented if he had been "...very wary of strong crosswinds, particularly when buildings or obstructions are adjacent to runway."
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI95LA113