Bellanca 7ECA accident near Tracy, CA
On October 12, 1997, a Bellanca 7ECA (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tracy, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 12, 1997
- Place
- Tracy, CA
- Aircraft
- Bellanca 7ECA · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.730°N, 121.420°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09046
NTSB summary
On October 12, 1997, at 1640 hours Pacific daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N11860, collided with telephone wires about 4.2 nautical miles west of the Tracy Municipal Airport, Tracy, California. The airplane was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. The certificated private pilot received fatal injuries and his passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was rented by the pilot from the Tracy Flight Center, a fixed-base operator located at the airport. The local flight originated from the Tracy Municipal Airport about 1600. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aircraft was observed by other family members to be flying low around a cultivated lima bean field. The family members told the San Joaquin Sheriff's office that they were working in the dry bean field and they noticed the airplane flying in the area where they were working. The first eyewitness stated he saw the plane flying from west to east, and it appeared to be trying to fly underneath the power lines, which paralleled Hanson Road. The witnesses indicated the airplane attempted to go under the power lines, the right wing clipped the power lines and then began a backward somersault until it struck the dirt field with it's right wing tip and then began to cartwheel. The Safety Board examined the accident site and wreckage. The aircraft was found nearly consumed by fire at a point measured to be 236 feet east of the telephone wires. Examination of the power lines disclosed evidence of the airplane striking the higher power transmission wires. Striations matching the dimensi
Probable cause
The pilot's low operating altitude and his failure to maintain appropriate clearance during low level maneuvering flight. Contributing factors were transmission wires and the physical impairment that resulted from the effects of the over-the-counter medications found during toxicological evaluation.
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Browse: California · Bellanca aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
