# Accident 19990218001829A: Bbavia 7GCBC, Grand Rapids, MI, February 18, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 18, 1999, 14:30 local time
- Place: Grand Rapids, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.9634° N, 85.6681° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Grand Rapids, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9634&lon=-85.6681&mi=10
- Aircraft: N57468, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57468) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7GCBC (registry code 1220601, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BBAVIA 7GCBC
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA098) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990218001829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT WAS CONDUCTING A LOW LEVEL FLIGHT WHEN IT STRUCK POWER LINES, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (FROM .19) ON FEBRUARY 18, 1999, AT 1430 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME (CDT), A BELLANCA 7GCBC, N57468, PILOTED BY A COMMERCIAL PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE RESULTING FROM AN IN-FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TRANSMISSION WIRES WHILE MANEUVERING OVER PRAIRIE LAKE, NEAR GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISION OF 14 CFR PART 91 AS A BUSINESS FLIGHT.  THE FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES.  THE FLIGHT DEPARTED GRAND RAPIDS/ITASCA COUNTY GORDON NEWSTROM FIELD, NEAR GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA, AT 1315 CDT, FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT.  IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT, HE STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING A SHORT-FIELD LANDING APPROACH TO THE FROZEN LAKE.  THE PILOT STATED THAT ON APPROACH TO THE FROZEN LAKE HE STRUCK THE UNMARKED TRANSMISSION WIRES WITH HIS VERTICAL STABILIZER.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RETAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND LANDED ON THE FROZEN LAKE.                                                                                   (-23) A/C STRUCK POWER LINE DURING FINAL APPROACH OF PRACTICE LANDING ON (FROZEN) LAKE SURFACE. WIRES BELOW TREE LEVEL, UNMARKED, AND SUPPORT POLES OBSCURRED BY TREES.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI99LA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA098), Feb 18, 1999: Bellanca 7GCBC (N57468), Grand Rapids, MN, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate visual lookout. A factor to the accident was the unmarked transmission wire.

## Other reports on N57468 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19750705018059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19750705018059A), Jul 5, 1975: Blanca 7GCBC (N57468), Kake, AK, Substantial damage. Beach tkof. L gr hit sand berm,acft veered into pool of water.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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