Bellanca 7GCBC N5500L

Summary

On 9 September 1997 at about 16:30 local time, a Bellanca 7GCBC registered N5500L was involved in an accident near Columbus, Montana, 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

9 September 1997 at 16:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbus, Montana, United States

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Bellanca 7GCBC

Registration

N5500L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Billings → Spokane

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA97LA208

Nobody was injured.

the pilot passenger failed to maintain clearance from the power line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane collided with a power line while engaged in low flying, and the pilots made a precautionary landing in a wheat field adjacent to the power lines. The pilot in the rear seat stated that he was flying the airplane, which had just been purchased by the pilot in the front seat. The rear seat pilot, who was also an aircraft mechanic, did not meet flight currency requirements and had not had a medical exam since 1992. The front seat pilot was not aware of the other pilot's medical status or lack of currency.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.