# NTSB FTW91LA044: Bellanca 7ECA, N5524K, Friendswood, TX, March 1, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 1, 1991, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Friendswood, TX
- Coordinates: 29.510162, -95.190734 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5102&lon=-95.1907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 23306
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW91LA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23306/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW91LA044

## Probable cause

THE DUEL STUDENT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING AND HIS INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE BRAKES. A FACTOR WAS THE DITCH.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, dual student (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, dual student
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)
  - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command(cfi)
  - brakes(normal) - inadvertent activation, dual student (cause)
- Nose over, landing - aborted

## Analysis

THE DUAL STUDENT, WHO HAD 2.4 HOURS CONVENTIONAL GEAR TIME, WAS RIDING THE BRAKES WHEN THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN DURING PRACTICE CROSS WIND TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS. THE AIRPLANE COCKED INTO THE WIND AND DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE INSTRUCTOR REGAINED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, STRAIGHTENED IT OUT, AND ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A WATER FILLED DITCH AND NOSED OVER PRIOR TO GETTING AIRBORNE. THE STUDENT AND THE INSTRUCTOR BOTH FELT THE STUDENT WAS RIDING THE BRAKES DURING THE ATTEMPTED ABORT. THE LANDING WAS MADE WITH A 70 DEGREE LEFT CROSS WIND, REPORTEDLY BLOWING AT 8 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 12 KNOTS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5524K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5524K-2013-09-30), registration cancelled 2013-09-30, S/N 1254-78, built 1978 (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: 1254-78
- Airframe hours: 1157
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C1 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: David L. Kelsey
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 23, 1990, 73 hours before
- Airport: T02, Clover Field, runway 32, 4,300 × 70 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 8,253 total, 183 in this make and model, 6,503 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910301003689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910301003689A), Mar 1, 1991: Bbavia 7ECA, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. Weather vaned into crosswind landing. CFI took over tried go around. On grass. Entered water filled ditch. Flipped.

## Other investigations on N5524K (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 MIA78DKJ88](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA78DKJ88), Sep 10, 1978: Bellanca 7ECA (N5524K), Huntsville, AL, substantial damage

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.