# NTSB CHI95LA256: Bellanca 7ECA, N5068K, Naperville, IL, August 1, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 1995, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Naperville, IL - Coordinates: 41.710247, -88.190574 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7102&lon=-88.1906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9974 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA256 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9974/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA256 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack or recent experience in tailwheel equipped aircraft and failure to abort the takeoff early enough to prevent the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - hangar/airport building ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED BY A COLLISION WITH A HANGAR FOLLOWING THE PILOT'S LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT ENDORSEMENT DURING A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW TWENTY-ONE (21) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. HE HAD ACQUIRED 15 HOURS TOTAL TIME IN TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT HOWEVER HE HAD NO RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT. FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT THE TWO PILOT/OCCUPANTS OF THE AIRCRAFT EACH STATED THAT THE OTHER WAS PILOT-IN-COMMAND. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 1995, at 1500 central daylight time, a Bellanca 7ECA, N5068K, was substantially damaged by a collision with a hangar at Naperville, Illinois. The private pilot told investigators that he had experienced loss of directional control during takeoff from runway 36 (2575' x 40', dry bituminous) at the Naper Aero Club Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal, 14 CFR Part 91, local area flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The pilot, operating the controls from the front cockpit, reported that during takeoff roll the airplane veered to the left. He applied right rudder but it did not correct the aircraft heading. He aborted the takeoff but was unable to stop the aircraft before impacting the hangar. The pilot held a valid tailwheel endorsement dated November 9, 1993, and had acquired 15 hours total flying time in tailwheel equipped aircraft but had no tailwheel flying time within the last 90 days. The pilot told investigators that he thought he was the second pilot. The second pilot, who occupied the rear cockpit during the flight, held a Private Pilot's license and reported 100 hours flying time in tailwheel equipped aircraft. She reported that during preflight inspection of the aircraft the pilot seemed very knowledgeable about the plane and in response to her inquiry told her he had fifteen hours experience in tailwheel equipped aircraft. She noted "no problems at all in taxiing the plane" or the engine pre-takeoff run-up. During the taxi she and the pilot discussed which runway to use for departure and the pilot announced his intention to use runway 36 even though she told him that runway 18 was the preferred runway when the wind is calm. She acquiesced to his decision. She reported that as soon as takeoff power was applied the pilot lost directional control, veering left, then right, then left off the runway and into the hangar. She too told investigators that she thought she was the second pilot. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5068K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5068K), registered now, S/N 1338-80, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7ECA - Registry model: [Bellanca 7ECA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7eca) (registry code 1220460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1338-80 - Airframe hours: 2617 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-K2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David G. Underwood - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 1995, 30 hours before - Departed: LL10 - Destination: 1C5, PLAINFIELD, IL - Airport: LL10, Naper Aero Club Airport, runway 36, 2,575 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 123 total, 15 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DPA, 11 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19950801021119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950801021119A), Aug 1, 1995: Bbavia 7ECA, Naperville, IL, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on takeoff. Over control. Aborted. Hit hangar. Both pilots beleived they were second pilot (-23) on August 01, 1995 at approximately… 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. --- 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.