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Atlas / NTSB / CHI91LA280

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event CHI91LA280

1991-09-02 ALGONQUIN, Illinois, United States Airport · UNK None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N5035J

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

BELLANCA 7ECA

Engine

LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19781213

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A64825

Registrant of record

NEWTON JUSTIN T

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

INCAPACITATION OF THE PILOT DUE TO A HEART ATTACK.

Factual narrative

THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE, FLOWN BY A NON PILOT PASSENGER, COLLIDED WITH CROPS AND NOSED OVER DURING A LANDING ATTEMPT AT A PRIVATE LANDING STRIP. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE PRIVATE LANDING STRIP AND THE PASSENGER ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE PILOT/OWNER BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND SLUMPED OVER THE CONTROLS DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE PASSENGER MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE BACK TO THE AIRSTRIP AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SWERVED OFF THE RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING ROLL. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_CHI91LA280.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.