Bellanca 7ECA N9121L

Summary

On 2 May 1989 at about 20:15 local time, a Bellanca 7ECA registered N9121L, operated by Rainbow Aero Inc., was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 May 1989 at 20:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Colorado (4AC)

Coordinates

35.0997, -106.5206

Aircraft

Bellanca 7ECA

Registration

N9121L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Rainbow Aero Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sante Fe → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN89LA113

Nobody was injured.

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL DURING LANDING ROLL. VARIABLE AND GUSTING WINDS ARE CONSIDERED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PVT PLT WAS COMPLETING A X-COUNTRY FLT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE SAID THAT HE HAD TO SWITCH RUNWAYS BECAUSE OF GUSTING AND VARIABLE WINDS. HE SELECTED RWY 21, A 3,100 X 40 FT ASPHALT RWY. THE TOUCHDOWN SEEMED NORMAL BUT THE PLT SAID HE HAD TO USE FULL RIGHT RUDDER THEN FULL LEFT RUDDER TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE PLT SAID THAT A SUDDEN GUST FROM THE LEFT AND REAR OF THE ACFT BLEW DUST AND WEEDS ACROSS THE RWY AND LIFTED THE TAIL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE RWY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.