# Accident 20200227004949A: Bellanca 7ECA, Athens, TX, February 27, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 27, 2020, 17:00 local time
- Place: Athens, TX
- Airport: Private Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.4200° N, 95.8200° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4200&lon=-95.8200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2987Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2987Z-2021-11-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellanca 7ECA (registry code 1220460, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 7,906 total, 150 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA104) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200227004949A

## Narrative

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

ON 02/27/2020 AT 1700 LOCAL, A CITABRIA, N2987Z, OWNED BY ^PHILLIP B. ZIMMERMAN^, WHILE ON A PART 91 FLIGHT, DURING LANDING, ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND, DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TOPS OF TWO TREES, CAUSING IT TO IMPACT TERRAIN.  THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE AND A BROKEN TOOTH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED.  THE FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED AT A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP ON THE AIRCRAFT OWNER'S PROPERTY. VFR WEATHER PREVAILED.

## 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 CEN20CA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA104), Feb 27, 2020: Champion 7ECA (N2987Z), Athens, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The rear seat pilot and the student pilot's failure to see and avoid trees during initial climb following an aborted landing.

## Other reports on N2987Z (1)

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

- [Accident 20011021028841A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011021028841A), Oct 21, 2001: Bbavia 7ECA (N2987Z), Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Bellanca N2987Z was in the runup area to runway 4L. Mooney N6049X arrived and stopped in the runup area. Bellanca N2987Z attempted to maneuver around the…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
