Summary
On July 15, 1996, a Bellanca 7ECA (N5026K) was involved in an accident near Belle Plaine, MN. The accident resulted in 1 serious injury, 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's misjudgment of the distance and speed during the landing, and his delay in initiating a go-around. Factors relating to the accident were: the tall grass and ravine at the end of the runway.
On July 15, 1996, about 1200 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N5026K, sustained substantial damage when it impacted vegetation during an attempted go around in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. The pilot reported minor injury and the sole passenger sustained serious injury. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed the St. Paul Flemming Airport about 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was on file.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that he was on downwind to runway 35, when he noticed a two to three story house "just off the end of the runway." He shortened his downwind leg which "caused a fairly high initial final approach.... This required a slip to the runway.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI96LA242. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N5026K.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's misjudgment of the distance and speed during the landing, and his delay in initiating a go-around. Factors relating to the accident were: the tall grass and ravine at the end of the runway.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 15, 1996, about 1200 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N5026K, sustained substantial damage when it impacted vegetation during an attempted go around in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. The pilot reported minor injury and the sole passenger sustained serious injury. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed the St. Paul Flemming Airport about 1130. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was on file.
In his written statement, the pilot reported that he was on downwind to runway 35, when he noticed a two to three story house "just off the end of the runway." He shortened his downwind leg which "caused a fairly high initial final approach.... This required a slip to the runway. Since excessive airspeed was built up, the aircraft continued to float." He decided to execute a go around and applied full power. The landing gear impacted tall grass at the departure end of the runway, then a ravine. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI96LA242