- Date
- May 29, 2006, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gadsden, AL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N99NRBellanca 7ECA
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 3, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Birmingham FSDO-09
- FAA report
- 20060529012649A
- Case key
- 63831
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout,while maneuvering at a low altitude resulting in an in-flight collision with a powerline.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was flying low over the Coosa River to observe the boats on the river. The pilot stated that he "got lower that he expected" and did not see the power line over the river before hitting it with the right wing. The pilot flew the airplane back to his departure airport.
Factual narrative
On May 29, 2006, at 1300 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N99NR, registered to and operated by a private owner as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with a power line near Gadsden, Alabama. The airplane received substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The flight originated from Gadsden Municipal Airport, Gadsden, Alabama, on May 29, 2006, at 1245.
The pilot stated that he was flying low over the Coosa River to observe the boats on the river. The pilot stated that he "got lower that he expected" and did not see the power line over the river before hitting it with the right wing. The pilot flew the airplane back to his departure airport.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99NR
- Reported as
- Bellanca 7ECA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1069-75
- Airframe hours
- 3,479.39
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-C1B, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Melvin Ricky D. Weldon
- Registered owner
- Frederick S Frank
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 1, 2005
- Departed
- GAD · Gadsden, AL
- Destination
- 3M5 · Huntsville, AL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2004
- Flight hours
- 910 total · 96 in this make and model · 722 as pilot in command · 31 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KGAD, 4 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.