On February 21, 1982, a Bellanca 7GCBC (registration N53731) operated by J.s. Logan was involved in an aviation accident near Near Texarkana, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a powerline during flight, which resulted in a collision and subsequent crash into the Red River. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft struck a powerline approximately 70 feet above the Red River during flight. The wreckage drifted downstream before recovery efforts located the pilot and passenger bodies miles away.
What happened
During the course of flight, the aircraft encountered a powerline situated roughly 70 feet above the surface of the Red River. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into the river. Following the initial impact, the wreckage drifted approximately two miles downstream before it was recovered.
The recovery of the occupants occurred in stages over several months. The body of the passenger was recovered on March 21, 1982. The body of the pilot was recovered later, on May 15, 1983, at a location approximately 400 miles downstream from the site of the crash.
Findings
The investigation confirmed that the aircraft struck a powerline during flight. The subsequent impact with the river and the drifting of the wreckage were direct consequences of this collision. Both occupants were fatal in this event.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a powerline during flight, which resulted in a collision and subsequent crash into the Red River.